Bin 389 is often referred to as 'Poor Man's Grange' or 'Baby Grange', in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960, by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped to forge Penfolds solid reputation with red wine drinkers. Combining the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz, Bin 389 also exemplifies the judicious balance of fruit and oak. This release in 2020 commemorates the 60th anniversary since Bin 389 was first made.
There is a dense cascade of fruit and oak plums, black currants, olives, cinnamon, pan juices and licorice. Sourced from great vineyards all over South Australia but mainly the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra. Famous for being the most collected and cellared wine in Australia, it ages well for 20 years in top vintages and good conditions and always delivers masses of flavour over a rich, mouth-coating bed of chocolatey tannin. This is an outstanding wine that deserves to be in your cellar.
'Perfect marriage of the two varieties, cabernet and shiraz. Sixty years of practice! Harmonious. Not disparate varietally balanced and ocussed.' Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker, drink 2023-2050
98 Points - Andrew Caillard MW
97 Points -Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com
19+/20 Points - Matthew Jukes
96 Points - Ken Gargett, The World of Fine Magazine
96 Points - James Halliday
96 Points - David Sly, Decanter Magazine