2020 Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz, Barossa Valley

Deeply expressive and rich in dark plum and blackberry fruit, as well as iodine and tarry elements, this speaks so clearly to the warm and dry Marananga area of the Barossa Valley. Powerful dark fruit and tarry and savory notes on the palate, with bold and muscular tannins that carry the ripe black-fruit flavors so deep. Some licorice and sarsaparilla to close. Striking as always, this is a very composed Bin 150 with impressive poise. Best from 2026.

96 points jamessuckling.com

Matured for 12 months in American (24% new) and French (23% new) hogsheads and puncheons. From the heart of the Barossa Valley, and – as usual – proud of it. The deep colour stains the glass as the wine is swirled. A fusion of dark chocolate, dark berries, leather and cedar oak. Dialled up, not down, yet it achieves without heat on a full-bodied palate that is not confronted by tannins. A very good example of the style.

95 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au

Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz is a bold and beautifully sculpted expression of one of the Barossa Valley’s most revered subregions, the historic village of Marananga on the western side of the valley. Here, ancient red brown earths and ironstone sit over limestone, forcing the old Shiraz vines to dig deep and naturally limit their yields, giving fruit of incredible concentration and structure. Slightly cooler nights compared to the valley floor help retain freshness and aromatic lift, so Marananga Shiraz carries both power and precision. Bin 150 was first released to celebrate Penfolds one hundred and fiftieth anniversary and has since become a benchmark for showcasing Barossa terroir through a single regional lens rather than a broad blend.

The wine pours deep inky purple, with aromas of blackberry, dark plum, aniseed, cocoa, roasted coffee and a distinctive ironstone and graphite note that speaks clearly of Marananga. On the palate it is dense yet refined, layering black fruit, dark chocolate, savoury spice and fine grained tannins that build slowly and finish long and resonant. This is a wine made for serious food and long cellaring, pairing beautifully with slow roasted lamb, rib eye steak, game meats and aged hard cheeses, and it will continue to evolve for fifteen to twenty years, developing notes of leather, truffle and dried herbs as the fruit mellows.