Penfolds Bin 180 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz 2021 is a landmark commemorative wine crafted to mark 180 years of winemaking at Penfolds — and awarded 99 points by Tyson Stelzer, who describes it as “one of the finest wines of the modern era of Penfolds.” Made exclusively from esteemed Penfolds vineyard blocks in Coonawarra, Bin 180 binds past and present, celebrating the long-standing relationship between Penfolds and this iconic region. Conveyed in 100% one-year-old French oak, this is not quite Cabernet, not quite Shiraz — but truly special. As Peter Gago reflects: “Fatefully — testament to a pre-ordained and magical Australian varietal union.” A wine that demands time and patience to fully appreciate its complexities.
Appearance
Deep purple-red with exceptional depth and intensity — youthful, vivid, and compelling in the glass.
Aroma
A beguiling sense of otherness with a hint of exotic spices. An immediate pastrami meatiness opens the bouquet, followed by Middle Eastern spices and berried summer pudding. Lifted, bright, and utterly distinctive — crunchy redcurrant and blackcurrant from the Cabernet Sauvignon perfectly integrated with the blackberries of Shiraz, singing with all the brightness of a cool, classic Coonawarra season.
Palate
Blueberry and blackberry flavours lead a youthful, bright, and vivacious profile. The tannins are chewy and well-balanced, with fine-grained, limestone-mineral tannins that only Coonawarra can conjure, perfectly harmonised with the structural support of French oak. A generous mid-palate and velvety mouthfeel promise considerable longevity. A turbo-charged Coonawarra blend of classic, fine-boned precision — the epitome that less is indeed oh so much more.
Pairs With
Roasted rack of lamb, beef tenderloin, aged hard cheeses, and charcuterie. A wine of occasion that rewards patience at every stage.
Reviews
99 Points — Tyson Stelzer
“The opportunity for Penfolds to create a bold and bombastic blend to commemorate its 180th anniversary must have been tempting, and I love that it chose a very different and compelling path, highlighting not the grandeur of the warmer regions of South Australia in new American oak but the definition and tension of Coonawarra in the epic and cool 2021 season, sensitively framed in seasoned French oak. The definitive Australian blend has been recreated here with classic, fine-boned precision, singing with all the lifted brightness of this cool, traditional season. Fine-grained, limestone-mineral tannins like only Coonawarra can conjure are perfectly harmonised with the structural support of French oak. The result is one of the finest wines of the modern era of Penfolds and the epitome and exemplar that less is indeed oh so much more.”
— Tyson Stelzer, 99 Points
