Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon was launched with the 1990 vintage and developed in response to the increasing availability of high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon fruit across South Australia. Inspired by Bin 707, Bin 407 offers varietal definition and approachability with structure and depth of flavour — a textbook Cabernet Sauvignon that highlights the rewards of Penfolds' multi-region, multi-vineyard blending philosophy.
The 2008 vintage draws predominantly on Coonawarra, Robe, Wrattonbully, and Padthaway — the cooler southern regions that, as Peter Gago notes, delivered the lion's share of grape sourcing in a warm year. Matured for 13 months in a combination of new French and American oak with the balance in seasoned American oak, this is a fully mature Cellar Release of considerable character and presence. Decant vigorously and allow ample time to open.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
A deep, bright red — still showing excellent depth and vitality for its age.
Aroma
Varietally expressive as its stylistic template demands. An initial rush of black olive, graphite, blackcurrant, and lavender, followed by tomato purée paste and caponata — Mediterranean olives, capers, and anchovies. Scents of cinnamon and sandalwood add further complexity, with oak discreetly present. Polished leather complexities already awakening with air.
Palate
A continuum of what is promised aromatically, with more fruits evident and polished leather complexities fully awakened. Defined and linear, yet assertive — with stately Cabernet grip and presence. An even and full mid-palate, skirted by prominent tannins of real quality. The finish is solid, neither astringent nor hot, veiled in fruits and the spoils of a long ferment, 13-month élevage, and considerable time in bottle. A wine that has arrived.
Pairs With
Squab sous vide with ethical foie gras, rhubarb, aniseed, and celeriac emulsion — as served on the Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant Spring Menu 2010. Equally at home with roasted lamb, aged hard cheeses, and slow-braised game.
Winemaker's Notes
“When it gets warm, head south! Coonawarra, Robe, Wrattonbully and Padthaway contribute the lion's share of grape sourcing for this 2008 offer.”
“Better with air — pour vigorously and swirl energetically, sans spillage!”
“Insider information: 2008 Bin 407 — INVEST! One for the cellar.”
— Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Wine Sellers Direct Verdict
The 2008 Bin 407 is a wine that has done exactly what Peter Gago predicted — it has arrived. A fully mature Cellar Release from a vintage that rewarded those who sourced from the cooler south, this is Penfolds' multi-region blending philosophy at its most decisive. The black olive, graphite, and leather complexity of a mature South Australian Cabernet is all here, with tannins that have softened to a stately grip and a finish of real length and presence. Compared to a current-vintage Bin 407, this offers the tertiary complexity and bottle development that only time delivers — at a price that reflects its age and rarity without reaching Icon territory. For a collector who wants a fully mature Penfolds Cabernet ready to drink tonight, this is the bottle.
Best for: Collectors and Cabernet lovers seeking a fully mature, ready-to-drink Penfolds Cellar Release.
Style: Mature, structured South Australian Cabernet Sauvignon with tertiary complexity and stately grip.
Occasion: Fine dining, milestone celebration, serious wine dinner.
Who Should Drink This?
This is for the wine drinker who wants to experience a fully mature Penfolds Cabernet without waiting — a Cellar Release that has done its time in bottle and is now drinking at its peak. It is the natural choice for anyone who appreciates the tertiary complexity of aged Cabernet Sauvignon, for collectors building a Penfolds vertical, and for those who want to understand what Bin 407 becomes with 15+ years of bottle age. Decant vigorously for at least one hour before serving. Drink now to 2030.
Winemaking Notes
100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from Coonawarra, Robe, Wrattonbully, and Padthaway. Matured for 13 months in new French oak hogsheads (22%) and new American oak hogsheads (13%), with the balance in seasoned American oak barrels. Alcohol: 14.5% | Acidity: 6.7 g/L | pH: 3.43. Penfolds Cellar Release. Last tasted December 2010.
Vintage Conditions
The 2008 South Australian vintage was declared a vintage of two distinct halves. A welcome wet winter and a moderate, dry spring encouraged steady early season growth, setting up what appeared to be a textbook harvest. Cool and dry conditions at the start of summer were described as perfect — conducive to excellent flavour, colour, and phenolic development. Then, on the 3rd of March, a record 15-day heatwave created a major interruption, inducing profound differences in the quality of fruit picked before and after the heat spell. For Bin 407, the decision to head south — to Coonawarra, Robe, Wrattonbully, and Padthaway — proved prescient, with the cooler South East regions delivering fruit of exceptional flavour development largely unaffected by the heatwave. Weighted-average vintage charts may not do justice to the South Australian harvest in 2008. Penfolds reds will.
What's Similar?
Within the Penfolds range, Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon represents the next tier of ambition and critical standing — choose Bin 707 for a more powerful, new oak-driven expression of South Australian Cabernet. For a comparable mature Cabernet at a similar price point, aged Wynns John Riddoch or Balnaves The Tally from Coonawarra offer regional parallels. The 2008 Bin 407, however, carries the specific advantage of Penfolds' multi-region sourcing strategy — and Peter Gago's personal endorsement to invest.
