# Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz (2020)

- **Producer:** Penfolds
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Shiraz
- **Region:** South Australia, Australia
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €50
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** black cherry, black plum, blackcurrant, blackberry, vanilla, cloves, cedar, chocolate, leather, tobacco, earth

## About this wine

Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz is a distinguished expression of a single, cool-climate region. Since its inception in 1962, it has been crafted to showcase the aromatic complexity and inherent elegance of Shiraz grown in Coonawarra, South Australia. This region is renowned for its unique 'terra rossa' soil, a red clay over limestone, and a climate moderated by the Southern Ocean, which fosters the development of perfumed and transparent red wines. The 2020 vintage, despite a challenging growing season marked by frost and reduced yields, ultimately delivered grapes of exceptional quality. This vintage benefited from a longer, cooler ripening period, allowing for the development of concentrated flavors and refined structure. The wine's stylistic evolution includes a significant shift in its maturation program, moving from American oak to French oak in the 1980s, a decision aimed at further enhancing its regional character and elegance.

## Interesting facts

- Bin 128 was first produced in 1962.
- It transitioned from American to French oak in the 1980s.
- The 'terra rossa' soil is key to Coonawarra's distinctiveness.
- 2020 saw very low yields but high grape quality.

## Food pairing

The wine's pronounced tannins and medium-plus acidity are well-suited to cut through the richness of fatty meats and complement the protein. Savory notes and dark fruit characteristics in the wine harmonize with roasted meats and earthy flavors.

## Wine making process

Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz is produced exclusively from grapes sourced from the Coonawarra region. The winemaking process begins with careful selection of the Shiraz fruit. Fermentation takes place in small oak barrels under controlled temperature conditions, a technique that aids in extracting optimal flavor and color while preserving the wine's aromatic profile. Following fermentation, the wine undergoes maturation for 12 months in French oak hogsheads, with a portion of new oak used to impart complexity and structure. This approach is designed to highlight the unique characteristics of Coonawarra's terroir and the Shiraz grape, resulting in a wine that is both regionally expressive and stylistically refined.