2022 Penfolds Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

I've been really impressed with the Penfolds wines that they're producing out of the Napa Valley, with their heady fruit purity and keen winemaking nous on display. There's enchantingly pure fruit here. It's all blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry with hints of mixed spice, malt biscuits, cedar, pipe tobacco, pan juices, roast venison, creamy oak, licorice, purple floral top notes and earth. The palate, too, is pure and endearing with a core of beautiful fruit, hints of coal dust and powdered granitic tannins, with plenty of depth and energy on the fade out. Superb.

96 points Dave Brookes winecompanion.com.au

Part of Penfolds’ ambitious global series, Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon explores Napa Valley terroir through the lens of one of Australia’s most iconic wineries. Named as the mirror image of Bin 407, this wine reflects Penfolds’ philosophy of combining regional expression with house style precision. Fruit is sourced from carefully selected Napa vineyards, then handled with the same disciplined approach that has defined the brand for generations, resulting in a Cabernet that balances Californian richness with structural polish.

A deep garnet purple fills the glass with confident intensity. Aromas unfold in layered waves of blackcurrant, dark plum and blackberry intertwined with cedar, vanilla pod, graphite and subtle baking spice. There is a plush generosity to the bouquet, underpinned by a composed, finely tuned elegance.

The palate is full bodied and richly textured, delivering concentrated cassis and black cherry fruit framed by firm yet velvety tannins and balanced acidity. Notes of dark chocolate, espresso and toasted oak build through the mid palate, leading to a long, resonant finish that feels both powerful and refined. This Napa Cabernet will reward careful cellaring over ten to fifteen years as savoury complexity, leather and cigar box nuance gradually emerge.

Think grilled ribeye sliced thick, slow braised short ribs or aged cheddar passed around as the night deepens. A record like The Rolling Stones Exile on Main St or something late era Bowie setting a confident, expansive tone, the wine settling into the evening with effortless authority.