Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon

Launched with the 1990 vintage in 1993, Bin 407 was developed in response to the increasing availability of high-quality cabernet sauvignon fruit. Inspired by Bin 707, Bin 407 offers varietal definition and approachability, yet still possessing structure and rich depth of flavour. Textbook cabernet sauvignon, the expressive Bin 407 demonstrates the reward of Penfolds multi-regional blending philosophy. A core of ripe fruit is well supported by sensitive use of French and American oak.

2021

Wine Advocate 94: The 2021 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon is from Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. As I smelled this, I thought, "Gee, this smells good!" Usually, I find the presence of American oak to be distracting and ill-matched to the leafy, detailed Cabernet fruit. Here, there has been a significant proportion of French oak (25% new) and a lesser proportion of American oak (12% new oak). You get dark chocolate, berry compote, resin, stewed rhubarb, cassis, crème de menthe, soft-eating licorice and black olive tapenade. All regions have a warm climate, with the exception of Adelaide Hills, of course. In this cooler year, the fruit is mouth-filling without being heavy. Saturating. Lovely. Creamy. Big! Excellent.

James Suckling 93: Very Australian, bearing riffs on tea tree, black olive, sage and eucalyptus. All Aussie bramble, with tempering elements of clove and a gush of blackcurrant at its core. The tannins, spearmint and compressed. A bit drying, despite the wine's fuller weight. And yet for those seeking liquid Australiana, this is worth its weight in gold. After all, it could come from nowhere else. Drink or hold.

Vinous 93: Two thousand and twenty one is a fantastic vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407 that brings together fruit from Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. The wine shows a lovely presence, with every piece in its place. It opens with expressive cassis, chocolate mint and graphite with well-proportioned oak. A composed and well-structured palate follows, with genuine tension intertwined with tremendous brights of fruit before a cedary, youthful and surprisingly long finish. There's killer balance from start to finish.