Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A multiregional wine matured in French (25% new) and American (12% new) oak for 12 months. It seems like cabernet sauvignon is uniformly very strong in this year's Penfolds releases. Here, Bin 407 shines – crimson in the glass with plush, varietally true characters of blackberry, mulberries and cassis with hints of fine spice, scattered herbs, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, cigar box, licorice, bay leaf and cedar. Concentrated yet balanced and poised with a fine tannin framework and bright, energetic line finishing with grace and a sense of latent power. One for the long haul and a strong release. Drink 2023 - 2050.

The grapes for this release were sourced from Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills. 12 months in French (25% new) and American (12% new) oak hogsheads.

Bin 407 always nowadays announces its variety clearly and well. Herb, purple flower, tobacco and mint notes swirl confidently through boysenberry, raspberry and blackcurrant. It’s fresh, it’s convincing, and it’s well sustained. t’s not a flamboyant wine but this has quality and age-worthiness running through its veins. It was a great vintage, and it shows. Drink 2028 - 2040+

The 2021 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon is from Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. As I smelled this, I thought, "Gee, this smells good!" Usually, I find the presence of American oak to be distracting and ill-matched to the leafy, detailed Cabernet fruit. Here, there has been a significant proportion of French oak (25% new) and a lesser proportion of American oak (12% new oak). You get dark chocolate, berry compote, resin, stewed rhubarb, cassis, crème de menthe, soft-eating licorice and black olive tapenade. All regions have a warm climate, with the exception of Adelaide Hills, of course. In this cooler year, the fruit is mouth-filling without being heavy. Saturating. Lovely. Creamy. Big! Excellent. Drink 2023 - 2051.