Continue cellaring. Peak drinking 2023 - 2040.

Colour
Bright plum red

Nose
Fragrant, lively. Soars!
Alluring – an innocent sniff certainly draws you immediately back to the glass, soon to tempt that hurried first ingestion.
An array of glacéed fruits – red-infused jube and pastille notes.
Aromas remind of flambé crêpe suzette with the faintest hint of (Grand Marnier) orange.
A suggestion of oak – linked to scents of dry tea leaf (Earl Grey)?
But an infant!

Palate
Shouts Coonawarra! An immediate proclamation at first sip.
Red fruits swamp the palate – raspberry, cranberry, redcurrant, rhubarb … and a little cassis.
No mid-palate deficit – this cabernet’s mouth-watering acidity and succulence fill all gaps.
Grainy, highly defined / high-resolution tannins – right across the palate, in tandem with supportive oak.
A balanced density and volume. Expansive.

 

98 Points - Tony Love

98 Points - Huon Hooke

97 Points - Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com

19.5+/20 Points - Matthew Jukes

96 Points - Andrew Caillard MW

96 Points - Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

96 Points - David Sly, Decanter Magazine

95 Points - Ken Gargett, The World of Fine Wine Magazine

“An expected long life ahead for this 2018 vintage Bin 169 – Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon certainly has the track record. Ditto Penfolds.”

- Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker

Origin: Coonawarra, South Australia.

Maturation: 18 months in French oak hogsheads (50% new)

Wine Analysis: Alc/Vol: 14.5%, Acidity: 7.1 g/L, pH: 3.56

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Coonawarra enjoyed near long-term average winter rainfall, and slightly below average spring rainfall. Following a frost event on November 4th temperatures were generally warmer, +3.6°C above average thanks to a combination of high minimum and maximum temperatures. Coonawarra experienced 13 days greater than 35°C during the months of January, February and March, with the longest spell spanning 3 days (17th – 19th January). The hottest day recorded was 42°C on January 19th. From December to mid-April conditions were very dry, delivering only 50mm, which is half the normal rainfall. Subsequently, there was no disease pressure. Mild conditions prevailed over the harvest, allowing grapes to ripen with optimal flavour and fine tannins. An excellent vintage for Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon.

Bin 169 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of our newest regional Coonawarra wines.  This gorgeously scented and richly concentrated wine is steeped in the origins of our modern winemaking traditions. 

A contemporary showcase of cabernet and Coonawarra.