Penfolds
Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz
South Australia, Australia
Presented to me, double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours, a slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core and significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly dried and desiccated fruit: dried brambles, dried cherry fruit leather, coffee, dried flowers, licorice, and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be a GSM blend, a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend or is Zinfandel from France or the United States. For me, there aren’t any signs of pyrazines so I like this as a GSM blend with a good amount of Syrah. Due to the color, rim, variation, and sediment I believe this has 25 to 30 years of age. Final conclusion, this is Chateauneuf-du-Pape from 2001. Whoa! I haven’t had one of these in a long, long time. OG Kalimna Bin 28! This was showing really well. Drink now but still has life left.
Presented to me, double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours, a slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core and significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly dried and desiccated fruit: dried brambles, dried cherry fruit leather, coffee, dried flowers, licorice, and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be a GSM blend, a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend or is Zinfandel from France or the United States. For me, there aren’t any signs of pyrazines so I like this as a GSM blend with a good amount of Syrah. Due to the color, rim, variation, and sediment I believe this has 25 to 30 years of age. Final conclusion, this is Chateauneuf-du-Pape from 2001. Whoa! I haven’t had one of these in a long, long time. OG Kalimna Bin 28! This was showing really well. Drink now but still has life left.
Jun 11th, 2026
Vintage 2022 | expressive spicy more meat at the bones than Max 20 needs much more time now
Vintage 2022 | expressive spicy more meat at the bones than Max 20 needs much more time now
Dec 17th, 2025
Penfolds reds like this age at glacial pace even from a not so great vintage like 2007. Not much change after 5 years. Red and black fruits- choc/mocha - good concentration - tannins starting to soften after 18 years. Could keep cellaring up to 2030 and beyond.
Penfolds reds like this age at glacial pace even from a not so great vintage like 2007. Not much change after 5 years. Red and black fruits- choc/mocha - good concentration - tannins starting to soften after 18 years. Could keep cellaring up to 2030 and beyond.
May 15th, 2025Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 2. The 2018 pours a deep purple color with an impenetrable core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe black and red fruits: brambles, tobacco, purple flowers, dill, vanilla, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and pretty decadent with a velvety texture. Drink now through 2033.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 2. The 2018 pours a deep purple color with an impenetrable core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe black and red fruits: brambles, tobacco, purple flowers, dill, vanilla, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and pretty decadent with a velvety texture. Drink now through 2033.
Mar 20th, 2025See previous notes. From a warm vintage. Typical Penfolds DNA of choc/malt/mocha with Blackberry, mulberry. Palate strength remains at 17 years of age. Supple, pliant smooth tannins with great persistence. 15 months in older American hogsheads.
See previous notes. From a warm vintage. Typical Penfolds DNA of choc/malt/mocha with Blackberry, mulberry. Palate strength remains at 17 years of age. Supple, pliant smooth tannins with great persistence. 15 months in older American hogsheads.
Mar 10th, 2025A little cold to begin with. After it warmed up - Liquorice, Plum and Blackberry. Such a strong wine - full bodied - plenty of everything. Drinking window up to 2035 according to Penfolds. At the moment this tastes young at 14 years of age. The next one is many years away.
A little cold to begin with. After it warmed up - Liquorice, Plum and Blackberry. Such a strong wine - full bodied - plenty of everything. Drinking window up to 2035 according to Penfolds. At the moment this tastes young at 14 years of age. The next one is many years away.
Jul 30th, 2024Dark dark Ruby - call it black. From the ripe 2010 vintage. Black fruits, mulberry, anise, herbs - very full bodied, very Barossa and very Penfolds. At least 10 to 15 years in front of it. As HH said undoubtedly a warm climate style, and it’s so true. On the palate ripe plum, blackberry and liquorice. Oak not as prominent as in previous tastings. Next one in mid 2025.
Dark dark Ruby - call it black. From the ripe 2010 vintage. Black fruits, mulberry, anise, herbs - very full bodied, very Barossa and very Penfolds. At least 10 to 15 years in front of it. As HH said undoubtedly a warm climate style, and it’s so true. On the palate ripe plum, blackberry and liquorice. Oak not as prominent as in previous tastings. Next one in mid 2025.
Oct 26th, 2023Not near as oaky as the one I tasted earlier this year. Also the tannins have softened markedly. Blackberry and other black and blue fruits with liquorice and herbal notes. I have 4 left and should drink one every 2 years until 2030. A multi regional blend from South Australia.
Not near as oaky as the one I tasted earlier this year. Also the tannins have softened markedly. Blackberry and other black and blue fruits with liquorice and herbal notes. I have 4 left and should drink one every 2 years until 2030. A multi regional blend from South Australia.
Dec 13th, 2022Very oaky on nose and palate. Far more oaky than the Syrahmi Heathcote X Shiraz I had prior to this. Ripe plums, dark chocolate and a little black pepper from a good vintage in the Barossa. This is the first of 6 bottles and will probably have one every 2 years until the early 2030s. A pity the oak is still so prominent after 12 years because the fruit was excellent - just smothered by mocha. Many will still like the style however.
Very oaky on nose and palate. Far more oaky than the Syrahmi Heathcote X Shiraz I had prior to this. Ripe plums, dark chocolate and a little black pepper from a good vintage in the Barossa. This is the first of 6 bottles and will probably have one every 2 years until the early 2030s. A pity the oak is still so prominent after 12 years because the fruit was excellent - just smothered by mocha. Many will still like the style however.
Jul 28th, 2022
Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with medium acidity.
Showing black currants, cooked plums, figs, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs and peppercorn.
Nice finish with fine tannins and bitter herbs.
This is a very tasty Shiraz from Australia. Still young and will drink better in 5 years.
Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime.
Big, extracted and rich, with mild complexity.
A nice sipping wine, and good with BBQ Meats too.
Robert Parker 93 points.
100% Shiraz grapes were aged in American oak barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$30.
Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with medium acidity.
Showing black currants, cooked plums, figs, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs and peppercorn.
Nice finish with fine tannins and bitter herbs.
This is a very tasty Shiraz from Australia. Still young and will drink better in 5 years.
Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime.
Big, extracted and rich, with mild complexity.
A nice sipping wine, and good with BBQ Meats too.
Robert Parker 93 points.
100% Shiraz grapes were aged in American oak barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$30.