With each vintage release the cool-climate Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz provides an interesting counterpoint to the more opulent and richly concentrated warm climate Kalimna® Bin 28 Shiraz. Bin 128 comprises fruit sourced from the unique terra rossa soils of Coonawarra, a region that exemplifies the perfume, transparency and seductive nature of cool-climate red table wines. Coonawarra has remained the source of shiraz fruit for Bin 128 since the inaugural release of the 1962 vintage. In order to further enhance the regional qualities of Bin 128, the wine is matured in a mixture of new and seasoned French oak hogsheads, élevage that was refined during the 1980’s when the transition was made from American to French oak.

TASTING NOTES:

NOSE: An assortment of gamey scents (to remind of an Italian salumeria!) – cured venison, sweet smell of bresaola, and finocchiona (salami with fennel seeds). Not to preclude the local – a suggestion of kangaroo prosciutto, yet a definite assertion of the red dust of regional Coonawarra. Redcurrant – crushed raspberry/cherry pip and a dried herb crustiness – thyme flowers? Certainly quite a bit arising from the glass … Coonawarra complexity!

PALATE: Medium-bodied – well-proportioned, yet not big. Layered.Appetising, juicy … laced with cracked black pepper, red spices (Hungarian paprika) and caraway.A skerrick of (cherrywood) oak and brick-dust tannins – verging on chalky.Fruits evident, yet the savouries beckon greater attention (glazed meats, green olive, capers).Yet another manifestation of the flavours and structure of cooler-climate French oak-matured shiraz … channelled via a Penfolds winemaking lens.