2024 Penfolds Bin 169 Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra

100% cabernet sauvignon from Coonawarra matured for 18 months on French oak hogsheads, 79% new. An outstanding release for the Bin 169. Fruit pure and velvety, with ripe satsuma plum, blackberry, blackcurrant and black cherry fruits cut with hints of brown spice, cedar, graphite, sandalwood, roast meats, peppercorn, olive tapenade, crushed herbs, tobacco and dark chocolate. It's a beautifully composed wine with a sleek palate shape, fine, chalky long-chain tannins and a bright mineral energy that sails the wine forward long and true. A really stylish, elegant release that is very impressive indeed.

96+ points Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion

Penfolds Bin 169 stands among Australia's finest expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon, showcasing the extraordinary pedigree of Coonawarra's famed terra rossa soils. First released in 2008, the wine was created to celebrate one of the country's greatest Cabernet regions, where a unique combination of ancient limestone, cool maritime influence and exceptional vineyard sites consistently produces wines of remarkable elegance, structure and longevity. Produced only in vintages that meet Penfolds' exacting standards, Bin 169 has become a highly sought after release for collectors who appreciate purity, precision and the unmistakable character of world class Coonawarra Cabernet.

The 2024 vintage provided near ideal growing conditions, with a long, even ripening season allowing Cabernet Sauvignon to develop exceptional concentration while retaining freshness and aromatic detail. Fruit was sourced from carefully selected vineyards across the Coonawarra strip before undergoing meticulous parcel selection and maturation in French oak barriques. The restrained oak regime enhances texture and complexity while allowing the distinctive cassis fruit, fine tannins and mineral character of Coonawarra to remain the focus.

Deep crimson with a vibrant garnet hue, the bouquet opens with classic aromas of blackcurrant, cassis and wild blackberry layered with violet, bay leaf and cedar. As the wine evolves, notes of graphite, cigar box, dark cocoa, crushed mint and subtle baking spice emerge, revealing impressive depth and refinement. The palate is powerful yet beautifully sculpted, combining concentrated black fruits with finely grained tannins and bright natural acidity. Hints of pencil shavings, olive tapenade and earthy mineral notes unfold through an exceptionally long, poised finish that captures the elegance, restraint and quiet confidence of great Coonawarra Cabernet.

A magnificent partner to, roast lamb, chargrilled rib eye, venison loin or aged Cheddar. While immensely impressive after extended decanting, Bin 169 is built for the patient collector and will continue to evolve gracefully for twenty five to thirty five years, revealing ever greater complexity and finesse.