2013 Penfolds Shiraz Kalimna Bin 28

(made from fruit grown in the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and Padthaway and aged for a year in used American oak hogsheads): Bright violet color. Highly aromatic scents of cassis, blackberry, vanilla and violet, with a smoky Indian spice overtone. Rich, layered and alluringly sweet, offering densely packed flavors of dark berry preserves, spicecake and floral pastilles. Opulent yet lively Shiraz with no apparent no rough edges. Smooth tannins add shape and grip to a very long, smoke-tinged finish, with the berry note strongly repeating.

First made in 1959, Bin 28 is named after the famous Barossa Valley Kalimna Vineyard purchased by Penfolds in 1945 and from which the wine was originally sourced. Today, Bin 28 is a multi-region, multi-vineyard blend, with the Barossa Valley always well represented. 100% Shiraz. Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Langhorne Creek. TA 6.4 g/l, pH 3.62. No new oak – 12 months in seasoned American oak hogsheads. Very deep purple. Rich and intense on the nose – the most stereotypical South Australian Shiraz so far. Very sweet and chewy – lots of tannin. Beefy, muscular wine. Impressive rather than friendly to my palate. (JR)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Shiraz Kalimna Bin 28 has a wonderfully exuberant nose of ripe blackberries and blueberries with cracked pepper, roses and asphalt nuances. Medium to full-bodied and open-for-business now, it provides plenty of earth-laced black fruits flavors with a good amount of chew and a long finish.