Bin 389 was often referred to as ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960 by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped forge Penfolds reputation with red wine drinkers by combining the structure of cabernet sauvignon with the richness of shiraz. Exemplifying the judicious balance of fruit and oak, Bin 389 highlights the generous mid-palate Penfolds in known for.

Penfolds has been a pioneer in the world of winemaking since its establishment in 1844 by Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold. The company's success has been driven by a lineage of visionary winemakers who have pushed the development of the company to extraordinary, bold new heights. Mary Penfold's reign at the helm of Penfolds saw years of determination and endeavour, experimenting with new methods in wine production. In 1948, Max Schubert became the company's first Chief Winemaker and he propelled Penfolds onto the global stage with his experimentation of long-lasting wines - the creation of Penfolds Grange in the 1950s. Soon, the medals began flowing, and Grange quickly became one of the most revered wines around the world. In 2012, Penfolds released its most innovative project to date - 12 handcrafted ampoules of the rare 2004 Kalimna Block Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Penfolds continues to hold dear the philosophies and legends that have driven the company's success since its establishment in 1844. Penfold's Grange is Australia's most revered wine, and its creation represents a distillation of Max Schubert's ambition for Australian wine. Schubert joined Penfolds as a messenger boy in 1931 and by 1948, he became Penfolds' first Chief Winemaker. In the latter part of 1950, Schubert was sent to Europe to investigate winemaking practices in Spain and Portugal. On a side trip to Bordeaux, Schubert was inspired and impressed by the French cellared-style wines and dreamed of making 'something different and lasting' of his own. Combining traditional Australian techniques, inspiration from Europe and precision winemaking practices developed at Penfolds, Schubert made his first experimental wine in 1951. In 1957, Schubert was asked to show his efforts in Sydney to top management, invited wine identities and personal friends of the board. To his horror, the Grange experiment was universally disliked and Schubert was ordered to shut down the project. Max continued to craft his Grange vintages in secret, hiding three vintages '57, '58 and '59, in the depths of the cellars. Eventually, the Penfolds board ordered production of Grange to restart, just in time for the 1960 vintage. From then on, international acknowledgment and awards were bestowed on Grange, including the 1990 vintage of Grange, which was named Wine Spectator's Red Wine of the Year in 1995. Today, Grange's reputation as one of the world's most celebrated wines continues to grow. On its 50th birthday in 2001, Grange was listed as a South Australian heritage icon, while the 2008 Grange vintage achieved a perfect score of 100 points by two of the world's most influential wine magazines. With every new generation of Penfolds winemakers, Max Schubert's remarkable vision is nurtured and strengthened. Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz is the benchmark by which all other reds in Australia and overseas are often measured. This wine has many reasons for its success, including concentration of flavour, complexity and longevity. Grange blossoms with 15 to 20 years of bottle age, when most other reds have passed their best and better vintages can live and continue developing for decades longer. The Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2019 is deep, dark and bright, the nose is automatically recognisable - formic and glacial higher notes - not quite as audacious as a fleeting perception of heady spirit (a la Cognac), and yet not just simple. Beneath, a more familial oaked nuttiness (hazelnut?) recedes to reveal aromas of black licorice/anise/black olive. A shroud of condensed glazed fruits surrenders to reveal a fresher disposition...a coulis of berries and stone fruits; boiled beetroot. Unsurprisingly wafts of coffee-grind, pan-scrapings/jus also ascend, hovering over a persistent base of cold lamb fat and marrow. Upon sitting, a sprinkle of lavender and exotic spices almost completes the aromatic package - well, at least for another minute or two. And then... Early days. On the palate there is cohesion, vigour, sheen, poise - four borders of a frame that structurally binds the lofty palate ambitions of this South Australian blend. Fresh and balanced. Neither exaggerated nor over-ripe - lively blueberry and other youthful blue/black fruits bely the maturation timeline of this alluring blend. Certainly befitting this style, unmistakable barrel-ferment characters are undoubtedly more pronounced on palate than nose. If the mid-palate is somewhat formidable (ably supporting a thick/dense core), by contrast the back-palate is creamy and caressingly endearing. Indeed, expansive and full-washing away all ahead of it. Certainly persistent. Texturally, chewy/grainy tannins and just-right acidity abet succulence and mouthfeel. Effortlessly handles 19 months in 100% new oak. Peak drinking 2029-2065.

Rockford Basket Press Shiraz has garnered a unique and cult following over its lifetime. With its 'old school' brown glass bottle and traditional label, Rockford Basket Press is one for the traditionalists. Big, bold and upfront fruit with all the lashings of chocolate, coffee bean and Christmas cake all have come to adore.

Robert O'Callaghan's Rockford Basket Press Shiraz is one of the Barossa Valley's most important wines. It entered Langton's Classification of Australian Wine in 2000 and was promoted to the highest 'Exceptional' category in 2005.Basket Press manages to combine the concentration and power of the traditional Barossa Shiraz style of the 1950s and '60s with the supple freshness of contemporary winemaking.It has achieved its high status in a relatively short time: the first vintage was 1984. Rockfords squat, highshouldered brown bottle - reminiscent of 1940s red wine packaging - is instantly recognisable.

Penfolds has a rich history dating back to 1844 when Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold arrived in Australia with a vine cutting and a bold vision. They purchased 500 acres of land in South Australia and began producing tonics, brandies, and fortified wines made from grapes and Australian sunshine. Christopher's planting of vines and his philosophies continue to influence Penfolds to this day. Mary Penfold, the unsung chief of Penfolds, played a significant role in the winery's experimentations, growth and winemaking philosophies. Max Schubert became the company's first Chief Winemaker in 1948 and created the long-lasting Penfolds Grange in the 1950s. The tradition of 'bin wines' began in 1959 with Kalimna Bin 28 becoming the first official Penfolds Bin number wine. Penfolds continues to innovate, with the release of the rare 2004 Kalimna Block Cabernet Sauvignon in 2012 and the 170th anniversary celebration in 2014. Today, Penfolds remains one of Australia's most famed and respected winemakers, driven by generations of visionaries and innovators who strive for excellence in winemaking. St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual amongst high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Proudly, a wine style that hasn’t succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters with age. It is matured in an assortment of old large vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of cabernet may sneak into the blend, the focal point for St Henri remains shiraz. The Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz 2020 (Gift Boxed) is a delightful wine that has been matured for 12 months in large seasoned oak vats. The wine has been crafted using outstanding parcels of shiraz grapes grown in South Australia's Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale regions, which faced adverse climate conditions. The winter drought continued from the previous year, leading to low root-zone moisture levels, requiring irrigation to ensure healthy vines. The beginning of summer was marked by a heatwave, with the Barossa Valley experiencing 26 summer days over 35°C. Cooler conditions in January and February provided much-needed relief and McLaren Vale experienced above-average rainfall in February, enabling the vines to finish the season in good shape. Although yields were significantly below average, the low yields produced outstanding quality parcels of shiraz suited to the St. Henri style. The wine's color is garnet red, with a dark purple core, presenting elegant profundity. The nose showcases the unadulterated shiraz fruit profile without oak influence. The fruit aroma is delightful, with fruits of the forest, berry conserve, strawberry flan and rhubarb tart. There is a hint of confectionary, reminiscent of red glace cherries. The savoury notes of German Blutwurst - a spiced sausage, pan scrapings from roast lamb, salt-cured beef with black peppercorns and Ferric notes of iron filings and whetstone swarf - round out an impressive showing. The palate is quite savoury, with a morish umami nuance of Japanese nori paper and olive brine. The mid-palate anchors fresh blueberry and mulberry leaf, with exotic spices adding intrigue - Alleppey turmeric, toasted cumin, pimento. The tannins are very tactile, comparable to Dutch cocoa, creating excellent texture and mouthfeel. This classic St Henri wine will reward extended time in the cellar, offering a peak drinking window from now until 2050.

First made in 2019, The Forebear Shiraz is an ultra-fine, single-vineyard wine born of one of the oldest shiraz vineyards in the world. In the glass, its bouquet wows, resplendent with florals and red berry fruits, while its captivating, textural mouthfeel blends the same fruits with a swathe of savoury notes, round tannins, and sleek acidity. Fruit for The Forebear is hand-picked, and the wine made with the utmost care, just as it would have been in the old days. Before release, The Forebear spends 24 months in French barriques, and then three years in bottle. On its name, Torbreck’s Chief Winemaker, Ian Hongell, says ‘We chose the name 'The Forebear' to honour the pioneering spirit of the Springbetts and other pioneering families and their role in establishing the Barossa as one of the great winegrowing regions of the world. This wine is our tribute to those who came before us.’

Chris Ringland Shiraz is steeped in the Barossa’s post-colonial story and the high art and science of winemaking. Typically the wine is deep in colour with intense dark berry, paneforte, espresso roasted chestnut aromas. The palate is plush and concentrated with blackberry, mocha, paneforte spicy flavours and dense fine chocolaty tannins. Despite the opulence, flamboyance, richness and concentration, the wine has superb percussion and freshness. The wine is a small vinification of around four to five hogsheads or 1500 litres. The "unusually thick skinned" Shiraz is entirely sourced from Chris Ringland's dry-grown vineyard on the edge of the Barossa Valley, but technically in Eden Valley, along Flaxman's Valley near Randall's Hill. The wine is "painstakingly hand-made" in open fermenters and regularly pumped-over to extract colour, flavour and tannins. After draining and pressing through a traditional basket press, fermentation is completed in 100% new French oak hogsheads. A period of up to 50 months oak maturation follows to achieve optimum complexity and balance between oak and fruit. The extraordinarily high release prices (higher than Penfolds Grange), limited production and reputation make Chris Ringland Shiraz the stuff of legends.

Penfolds RWT Shiraz is a big juicy Barossan Shiraz refined by the use of older French oak barrels. 1998 is considered to be one of the classic vintages of the modern age. Drinking wonderfully now but with many years still to come in its development, this is a great addition to any cellar.

The grapes for Kilikanoon Attunga were obtained from some of oldest vines in the island country of Australia. The fruit is renowned for its intense flavours and its juice for the tremendous ageing potential. The small, thick-skinned berries were fermented and basket pressed to result in low yielding juice. The ferment was then matured for 27 months in large casks of French oak. This wonderful red wine was bottled unfiltered to preserve the character of the grape.