Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia, 2017 

Grape: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Padthaway, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley  Coonawarra and Wrattonbully. 12 months in French oak (18% new) and American oak hogsheads (14% new). 

Inspired by Bin 707, Bin 407 offers varietal definition and approachability, yet still with structure and depth of flavour. Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon, the varietally expressive Bin 407 highlights the rewards of Penfolds multi-region, multi-vineyard blending, with a core of ripe fruit supported by sensitive use of French and American oak.

Producer Tasting Note:

COLOUR: Garnet red

NOSE: An aromatic umbrella sheltering all things cabernet. An immediate ascent of violet, mulberry leaf – laced with star anise, cinnamon, orange zest. Followed by varietal wafts of tomato ketchup, soy, iodine, and oddly, a Chinese spice/stock marinade. Not yet exiting this theme - sweet plum sauce, hoisin and roast duck crackling trepidatiously follows.

PALATE: Immediately more Tuscan than Bordeaux in cabernet character. Nevertheless, still very (South) Australian. Savoury, with a sour cherry grip ... and subtle cherry pip oak influence. Mouth-watering and succulent, yet still linear – tempered by appetising angular tannins. Darker fruits and green Spanish (stuffed) olive flavours further define the vintage, style. Neither a 2010 nor 2016 ... and not trying to be!

Critics' Tasting Notes: 

"This has a duality between some cooler-climate sourcing (some downgraded Bin 707 material went here) and warmer-region fruit from McLaren Vale and the Barossa, delivering impressive flesh and fruit weight. Really builds and fills and holds a wide-open finish. Drink or hold."

93/100 points, Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com, August 2019

"This is a strong vintage of Bin 407, a multiregional South Australian Cab. It opens with aromas of chocolate, cola, plush plum and black cherry, backed by accents of mint and other crushed herbs. On the palate, fine, chalky tannins slink around silky fruit and savory herbs. Poised and harmonious, this has the potential to age until 2030, but is drinking well right now"

93/100 points, Christina Pickard, WINE ENTHUSIAST, October 2020

"Great colour; blackcurrant, licorice, dark chocolate and spices run through the bouquet and palate alike, splitting and reforming in a dance of cassis and spices of all kinds. There is life and energy to spare here. Another major success."

96/100 points, James Halliday, September 2019