Peak drinking Now – 2030.  Drinking well now, but will improve with time.

Colour
Crimson red, a shimmer of garnet on rim

Nose
Exuberant aromatics.
At first, back to school – memories of black jelly beans, then a gentle spectral gradation to red liquorice and redcurrants.
Adhering to this colour theme, goji berry, wild raspberry and a red-fruited chutney.
A transient suggestion of sandalwood spices? Maybe.

Palate
Well-balanced. Whirling black fruits and an oscillating shiraz disposition – Bin 28 by any other name, personality intact.
Flavours akin to a consommé of dried porcini mushrooms; structurally embedded with grainy/sandy tannins.
Additionally, tobacco, tobasco and tamarind noted ... okay to mention taut, tenacious?!
Exits with an almost negroni / Cynar bittersweet clean finish.
Very much looking forward to monitoring this 2017 Bin 28’s journey in bottle.

“Access to select parcels of shiraz from the North & South of the state allow the Bin 28 style to flourish … the first created 60 years ago!”

- Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker

17.5/20 Points - Matthew Jukes

96 Points - James Halliday

94 Points  - Andrew Caillard MW

92 Points  - Angus Hughson

Origin: Multi-regional blend, South Australia. From Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Padthaway.

Maturation: 12 months in seasoned American oak hogsheads.

Wine Analysis: Alc/Vol: 14.5%, Acidity: 6.5 g/L, pH: 3.58

Variety: Shiraz.

South Australia’s wine districts experienced a cool and wet winter and spring, which provided the vines with good soil moisture profiles. Longstanding rainfall records were broken across South Australia, with some regions experiencing minor flooding. October was windy, which caused some challenges with fruit set, however these winds warded off any danger from frost in Padthaway and Barossa Valley vineyards. 
The prevailing cool conditions extended the growing season with flowering and veraison both later than expected. There were no heatwaves, with only a handful of days recording temperatures above 40 degrees. Warmer weather in March was welcomed, allowing the grapes to finish ripening with great colour and varietal character. Harvest for shiraz grapes didn’t commence until mid-March, a month later than the previous year.

First produced in 1959, Bin 28 is Penfolds earliest Bin-range wine. The first releases were single-vineyard wines made from the renowned Kalimna Vineyard in the Barossa Valley.  Bin 28 was first made while Grange was still being made in secrecy.