PENFOLDS BIN REDS DO IT AGAIN

FEW wines are awaited with as much anticipation by aficionados of good reds as Penfolds annual release of its Bins Range.

First launched by legendary Max Schubert in 1960 (Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz) and named after the particular bin or rack in the cellar where they were stored, these wines consistently win acclaim for their distinctiveness of style and individuality.

The latest Bin reds released to the market just last month are amongst some of the best-ever, most coming from the stellar 2004 vintages in the Barossa Valley and Coonawarra that gave Penfolds Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago exceptional fruit for wines that are both enjoyable in the short term and for cellaring, in some cases showing potential for 20-years under good conditions.

And interestingly this year’s releases include for the first time concurrent vintages of Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz – the 2004 and 2005 – that buffs will no doubt find interesting to compare the differences a year can make.

While the Bins range has traditionally concentrated on reds with six in this year’s releases, also included for the second year are the 2006 Bin 311 Tumbarumba Chardonnay and 2007 Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling.

(Others are Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz, Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz (2204 and 2005,) Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Bin 138 Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre; prices range from $27 to $45.)