2021 Penfolds, Bin 28, Shiraz, Australia
Description
First produced in 1959, the Bin 28 has long been a benchmark in Australian Shiraz, and the 2021 vintage is no exception. It leads with a delightfully opulent nose, with notes of berries, spice and chocolate that cascade out into the glass. It’s richly fruited and plush on the palate, with tightly woven tannins and notes of cherry cola, coconut and plum. Broad and expansive, the house style is evident with generosity of fruit, particularly on the mid-palate. It’s rare to see such ageworthy reds of this quality, at such an affordable price.
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Colour
Red -
Sweetness
Dry -
Vintage
2021 -
Alcohol
14.5% -
Grape
Syrah/Shiraz -
Body
Full Bodied -
Producer
Penfolds
Critics reviews
The 2021 Shiraz Bin 28 is a little shy before building and offering broad blackberry, blackcurrant, blackberry and chocolate aromas with sweet oak in support. Supple and fleshy fruited in style with well-weighted tannins, it’s a nicely pitched South Australian Shiraz with good upfront generosity, which it will continue to hold over the short to medium term.
Drink 2023 - 2030
The 2021 Bin 28 Shiraz hails from five regions: McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and Clare Valley. The wine matured for 12 months in American oak 7% new), and this really amplifies the sweet fruit characters in the mouth.
It’s already nicely integrated aromatically, despite being poured and opened in the same instance i.e., no preparation before tasting), and is redolent with red and purple berry fruit. Spicy, full throttle and loads of tannin in the mouth. Nicely chewy.
The first vintage of this wine was in 1959. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under a screw cap.
Drink 2023 - 2035
The type of full-weighted Australian Shiraz that many expect. While it could be argued that the style is a bit fusty, what cannot be denied is the moreish feel. Iodine, clove and boysenberry billow toward a nourishing and forceful finish, and the reality is that this cuvee, as with so many in the stable, is reliable and delicious. Sure, the oak is a bit fuzzy, but there is plenty to like.
Drink or hold
From vineyards in McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and Clare Valley. Overall, summer and autumn conditions were cooler than average, allowing grapes to ripen slowly. Aged for 12 months in American oak hogsheads 7% new). TA 6.4 g/l, pH 3.69.
Very concentrated dark purple. High-toned, menthol nose. Very sweet and mellow texture. Very South Australian and satisfying. Long and very comfortable in its own skin. The fruit can stand up to the tannins well, and there is genuine persistence of flavour.
Drink 2023 - 2040
Penfolds fans will fondly recall this Bin when it was called Kalimna Shiraz, first made in 1959 from the Barossa Valley vineyard Penfolds bought in 1945. Today Bin 28 is a multi-region Shiraz, but the Barossa fruit is always well represented.
It may have lost the Kalimna name, but that traditional, old-school style remains: monolithically dark, brooding and tannic, with ultra-ripe sweet fruit, smoky oak from 12 months in American hogsheads, 7% new) and roast meat and briney iodine note throughout.
Drink 2023 - 2050