PENFOLDS Bin 707 (Gift Boxed) Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia

One Superblend. Two Interpretations. Superblend 802.A and Superblend 802.B represent two unique interpretations of the iconic Australian blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, sourced from unique parcels destined for Penfolds flagships.The Superblend 802.A components were aged separately in new American oak hogsheads for 22 months prior to being blended. The cabernet sauvignon makes its structural presence felt comprising 68% of the blend, while the 32% shiraz contribution adds generosity. Unashamedly bold, immediately Penfolds.

Colour Purple core, red rim. Nose The nose is both intriguing and complex, beckoning the senses with an almost ferrous intensity that speaks to the wine's earthy terroir. Entwined within this metallic frame are layers of confectionary delight (liquorice all sorts and red pastilles) adding sweetness. Fresh fennel emerges with its aromatic aniseed charm, followed by baking spices. The savouriness deepens as notes of tomato relish interplay with pancetta and cured beef, providing depth and richness, followed by caper berries and hints of brine. Palate On the palate, sumac introduces itself first, offering its signature tang that invigorates the taste buds and provides a textural counterweight to the underlying umami flavours. This paves the way for a generous core of sweet dark fruits that envelops the mouth in velvety decadence. The tannins are fine yet persistent; they are powdery by nature but resolute in structure, lending support to the robust fruit profile without dominating it. Quartz minerality provides a crystalline clarity that is both refreshing and grounding amidst this richness. The savoury spice blend – cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice – weaves through each sip, accompanied by plum succulence and fenugreek's maple-like sweetness.

The Penfolds RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz is a poised and elegant single-region expression, now beautifully entering its next phase of evolution. Retaining its signature power and precision, this concentrated wine delivers immense depth and harmony. The core of black plum jam is enriched by seamless French oak, revealing layered notes of mocha, dark chocolate, and cedar. Perfectly balanced, the tannins melt across the mouth, creating a refined and long-lived style that is drinking superbly now and promises many more graceful years ahead.

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Proudly, a wine style that hasn't succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1,460 litre vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character.

The Bin 389 style evolved as a result of experiments, by Max Schubert, in the 1950s to develop a highly individual wine using a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz with compatible oak treatment. Bin 389 combines the elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz and demonstrates the traditional Penfolds' trademark - balance between fruit and oak, giving the wine character and longevity.

Penfolds Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon seeks out northern hemisphere excellence via meticulous vineyard and block selection, reinforced by flagship-worthy South Australian cabernet sauvignon. The result is distinctive, and of distinction. House Style is in the building blocks of Bin 149, a name derived from the percentage of South Australian cabernet sauvignon synergistically woven into the blend. Napa Valley regional sourcing seeks to showcase strong tannic foundations, dark fruit intensity but with the added dimension of a unique worldly disposition. Matured in French and American oak, this release highlights Penfolds commitment to quality.

Penfolds Quantum Bin 98 is the continuation of a twenty-year endeavor from when Australian vine cuttings were planted in Californian soil. A Wine of the World that encapsulates a bold blending alliance, Quantum reveals a wine that shows wisdom, crafted with conviction but also embedded in the quality-first philosophy that underpins Penfolds flagships. The wine serves as the most powerful expression of Penfolds' blending style and leads the charge in their ambition to seek out parcels of intense flavor, structural tannins and equal parts grace and complexity. Northern and southern hemispheres bring prized cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley and pedigreed shiraz from South Australia, respectively, into each others realm. Not adhering to expectations and de rigueur.

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual amongst high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Proudly, a wine style that hasnt succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters with age. It is matured in an assortment of old large vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of cabernet may sneak into the blend, the focal point for St Henri remains shiraz.