🏅 Accolades & Reviews
94 Points – Jeremy Oliver (Tasted Jan 2004)
Drinking Window: 2015–2023
91 Points – Gismondi on Wine (Tasted May 2007)
“The 2003 Bin 389 is suitably dark and well wrapped in cassis, chocolate, vanilla and black pepper aromas without any green character. The mouth is ripe and supple, with sweet tobacco, chocolate and smoky, herbal blackcurrant flavours. A very fine effort.”
— Anthony Gismondi & Stuart Tobe
91 Points – The Wine Front
“Full-bodied and balanced with sweet fruit, dark spice, and firm but approachable tannins. Shows classic Bin 389 style and energy.”
🍷 Producer Notes
Penfolds Rewards of Patience, Sixth Edition (2008)
Colour: Deep red-purple.
Nose: Cherry, herb garden, dried plum, chocolaty, nutmeg aromas.
Palate: Big, rich, dense and tightly packed with sweet-fruit, plum, herb and nutmeg characters. Fresh, solid tannins with a grippy yet flavourful finish.
An early drinking style.
— Penfolds Winemaking Team
About the Wine
Created by Max Schubert, the father of Grange, Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz is often referred to as the “Baby Grange” for its maturation in barrels previously used for Grange.
It combines the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz, showcasing Penfolds’ mastery in balancing fruit and oak.
The 2003 vintage reflects the warm, dry growing season in South Australia, producing a generous, ripe, and firmly structured wine.
Vintage Notes (2003)
The 2003 growing season began with a dry winter and warm spring, followed by intermittent heat during summer.
Cooler weather toward harvest allowed the fruit to retain freshness and balance, resulting in an approachable yet powerful Bin 389.
Specifications
Region: South Australia
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
Maturation: 12 months in new (27%) and seasoned American oak hogsheads
Alcohol: 14.5%
Acidity: 6.7 g/L
pH: 3.56
Last Tasted: 2008
Peak Drinking: Now – 2015 (per Rewards of Patience 2008)
Closure: Cork
Food Matches: Beef, duck, game, lamb
