Penfolds Bin 138 Grenache Shiraz Mataro

It’s a little over 20 years since Penfolds first added the Bin 138 to their line-up, a Barossa blend inspired by the reds of the Rhone Valley in southern France. This is a fruit driven blend of ripe and juicy Grenache (50%), Shiraz (44%) and Mataro (6%) – also known as Mourvedre in France and Monastrell in Spain.

Bin 138’s always been a big hit with us, it’s one of the first wines we’re keen to knock the top off each Penfolds’ release! We weren’t disappointed with this latest 2021 release and neither have the usual round of critics…

94/100 (James Halliday’s Wine Companion)
“A Barossa Valley blend of 50/44/6% grenache/shiraz/mataro aged in French (10% new) and American (2% new) oak for 12 months. Purple splashed crimson in the glass and quite perfumed on the nose with notes of dark plum and berry fruits, pressed flowers, cola, souk-like spice, black tea and earth. It sports a savoury palate shape with characteristically plush fruit depth, tight, compact tannins and a medium-length finish packed with ripe plums and spices.”

92/100 (Huon Hooke)
“Deep, bright, youthful red-purple colour; deep-set spices and dark fruits to sniff, traces of licorice, and ironstone. Palate is softer and fleshier than anticipated, with plenty of tannins but they’re soft and fluffy tannins. Bitter blackstrap licorice comes on strong on the finish. (50% grenache, 44% shiraz, 6% mataro)”

A bright, medium bodied red that’ll drink well between now and into 2037. Head to Penfolds’ own Magill Estate Restaurant and they’ll pair this wine with taro gnocchi with braised hare, roast peppers and saba. Pretty flash, but a slab of good old Kiwi lamb will do just nicely as well.