2017 Bin 128
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Tasting notes
Dark violet color. Aromas of ripe dark berries, candied flowers and baking spices, along with hints of cola and mocha. Shows very good depth as well as energy to its sweet cherry-cola and blackberry flavors, which spread out steadily through the back half. Closes long, smoky and smooth, with repeating spiciness and even tannins that add subtle grip.
Critic scores
Average Score
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Coonawarra Shiraz can excel in certain vintages, and the 2017 Bin 128 Shiraz is a fine effort, blending notes of dried spices (it was aged in 42% new French oak hogsheads), red plums, black olives and a hint of liquorice. It’s medium to full-bodied, with creamy, supple tannins and a long, silky finish.
The regional stamp of minty and leafy aromas is strong here, as is the stream of redder-toned berry flavors and a fine, long and linear spine of tannin. Drink over the next decade.
100% Shiraz. TA 6.3 g/l, pH 3.66. 12 months French oak hogsheads (25% new, 42% one-year-old, 33% two-year-old). 2017 Coonawarra Cab really suffered but Shiraz came in early enough. Winter and spring rainfall was plentiful in Coonawarra. The growing season began with temperatures slightly below average. The gap between bud-burst and flowering was 87 days, which equated to 18 days more than the long-term average, a reflection of the cooler conditions. Higher minimum temperatures were experienced in the months of September, January, March and April. Late January was particularly warm, which was welcomed by the viticulturalists after a relatively mild start to the summer. Extreme weather events were few, with only 10 days above 35 °C (95 °F) and a maximum of 39 °C (102 °F), recorded on 8 February. Although veraison was delayed, the grapes ripened slowly but evenly with strong varietal character. Harvest in Coonawarra commenced in late March and was completed in early May. The red varietals showed excellent colours and concentrated flavours in this region . Dark crimson. Peppery top note and some truffley notes. Long and very lively and a peacock's tail finish. Quite a bit of tannin on the end. Ambitious. (JR)
About the producer
Penfolds is Australia’s most famous wine producer, known best for their iconic top wine, Grange. First produced commercially in 1952, Grange has since gone on to become one of the world’s most famous fine wines. In 2001, the wine was listed as an Australian heritage icon.