Recently the juggernaut that is Penfolds rolled into Vancouver and literally took over the city. I was fortunate to have been invited to participate in one of the many events that were taking place.
If you are not familiar with the Penfolds wines then your first stop should be the B.C. Liquor store where you will find 21 options to satisfy your curiosity.
It’s not everyday that I have the great pleasure of enjoying a lunch that included nine (9) wines. Yes, you read that right. Except of course that does not include the Champagne we enjoyed while waiting to be seated at the table. That was a delightful Pol Roger. However, Penfolds does make champagne in partnership with the French Champagne house Champagne Thiénot. Both Pol Roger and Thiénot champagnes are available at Everything Wine should you wish to taste it yourself.
Please note that the overview, vintages and availablity may vary from what was poured and tasted at the lunch.
Here is what was served to compliment the wines:
Fremantel Octopus ala Plancha
spiced pumpkin hummus, shishito pepper, harissa mayo, levash
USDA Striploin
delicata squash, wild rice, red wine jus
Jasmine Panna Cotta
mango & lychee jelly, tropical fruit compote
These are the nine wines we tasted:
RIESLING – PENFOLDS BIN 51 EDEN VALLEY 2023
Created in the 1990s as part of the evolving Penfolds white wine development program, Bin 51 captures many attributes of the Eden Valley locale. The region’s high altitude and cool climate induces Riesling with great finesse and elegance and a capacity for long-term cellaring. South Australia has gained worldwide recognition for producing definitive world-class Riesling and Eden Valley always features.
As the first wine release of any new vintage, Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling offers a window to the future. Elegant and age-worthy, the 2025 vintage reveals scented florals and citrus, a fine mineral edge, and pronounced natural acidity.
As I had hoped the Riesling opened with the delightful scents of diesel, a touch of minerality and some herbaceous notes. The diesel hits the palate along with pleasant citrus and excellent acidity.
The wine is very pleasant, fresh and vibrant. Deliciously dry. Not surprising this was my favourite of the whites. It was excellent with the Octopus.
2024 available at select B.C. Liquor Stores $49.99
CHARDONNAY – PENFOLDS BIN 311 2023
Bin 311 Chardonnay truly reflects the winemakers’ mantra of going where the fruit grows best and where it best suits style. From the 2017 release of Bin 311, fruit sourcing moved from single region to multi-regional. Today the cool-climate vineyards of Tasmania, Tumbarumba, and the Adelaide Hills are our primary sources of fine quality Chardonnay. In true Bin 311 style, not unlike Yattarna, it exhibits lemon and lime aromas and a mineral acid backbone, complemented by barrel fermentation and maturation in new and seasoned oak.
The 2024 release showcases purity and precision, shaped by exceptional vintage conditions.
The colour is light and clear wih a golden colour. To start there is a pleasant and light scent of oak.
In the mouth it is quite oaky but so fresh with delicious ripe stonefruit with a super acidity that keeps it fresh and light. Such a treat with predominate peach on the palate. The wine went well with the first dish.
This is an excellent Chardonnay for anyone who has shied away from the varietal, easy drinking.
2022 available at select B.C. Liquor stores $49.99
YATTARNA CHARDONNAY 2019
Yattarna is the result of one of the most comprehensive, focused and highly publicised wine development projects ever conducted in Australia. The aspiration and independence of mind across generations of Penfolds winemakers inspired the ambition to create a white wine that would set a standard for ultra-fine Australian chardonnay. Selectively sourcing only the very best chardonnay fruit from cool climate regions, coupled with sensitive winemaking, the style continues to evolve.
This wine presented with much more depth on the nose. Oaky with green apple in the background.
Prominent oak in the mouth the wine is slightly, but pleasantly tart, deep and dry with very nice fruit notes. A true Chardonnay. For someone Chardonnay adverse you would find this quite enjoytable. It has good balance and went well with the first dish.
SHIRAZ – PENFOLDS BIN 28 KALIMNA 2023
Bin 28 offers a showcase of warm climate Australian Shiraz – ripe, robust, and generously flavoured. First made in 1959, Bin 28 was originally named after the famous Barossa Valley Kalimna vineyard from which the wine was originally sourced. Today, Bin 28 is a multi-region, multi-vineyard blend, with the Barossa Valley always well represented.
The 2023 vintage eloquently expresses Penfolds House Style, balancing fruit intensity with a structure poised for ageing. This makes it both an immediate pleasure and a candidate for cellaring, promising to evolve with complexity over time.
This was absolutely the best pick for the steak done more rare than medium. Both the dish and the wine were equal in richness. The Shiraz was a treat for the nose with deep, ripe fruit that lured you in with it’s captivating aromas.
Bold and ripe the Shiraz makes an excellent pairing. Not as constrained as the wines that followed. For me this was the absolute perfect accompaniment for the steak. Initially my #1 pick.
2022 available at select B.C. Liquor stores $48.99
BIN 128 COONAWARRA SHIRAZ 2024
Bin 128 is a pure expression of Coonawarra Shiraz, crafted from fruit grown on the region’s famed terra rossa soils. Offering a cooler-climate counterpoint to the more opulent Bin 28, Bin 128 captures the elegance, perfume and refined structure of Coonawarra reds. Since its inaugural 1962 release, this wine has remained rooted in the region, with maturation now taking place in French oak hogsheads, both new and seasoned, highlighting its distinctive style.
The 2023 vintage is graceful and finely structured, revealing a cool-climate profile and unmistakable Penfolds character.
The scents are deliciously rich and ripe with dark fruit. On the palate exceptional flavour and richness. Superb. Drink this young because it’s delicious right now but it can also be cellared.
After tasting all of the reds this one was my favourite overall.
Available at select B.C. Liquor stores $54.99 (currently on sale until Nov 20 $49.99)
BIN 389 CABERNET SHIRAZ 2023
A fresh expression of a timeless icon.
The 2023 vintage combines the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of South Australian Shiraz, delivering dark fruit complexity, fine tannins and a long, savoury finish. Made for memories and destined to be shared. (edited)
For my taste this wine had less richness than the Bin 128. Also exhibiting lighter scents on the nose. The wine is leaner, dry and slightly tight but very nice. I should add here that my preference is for the riper style red so that affects my notes, that should not be taken as a suggestion that this wine was amything less than excellent, it is only a reflection of my personal taste.
2023 available at select B.C. Liquor stores $99.99
BIN 407 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023
First released in 1993 with the 1990 vintage, 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 possesses 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 both French and American oak.
I found this wine to be mild and slightly subdued to start. The scents are quite floral which was unexpected. Italian plum on the nose.
Wonderful wine, very rich and ripe. With good depth and very good. Medium tannins and dry. This wine seems quite versatile and would pair with several dishes.
2023 available at select B.C. Liquor Stores $109.99
RWT BIN 798 SHIRAZ 2015
The initials RWT stand for ‘Red Winemaking Trial’, the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in the early 1990s. Now no longer a ‘trial’, RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage. Stylistically, RWT is contemporary, opulent, and finely tuned. An interesting contrast to the well-established Grange, which is a more concentrated, muscular, and assertive style. RWT is made from Barossa Valley Shiraz grapes primarily selected for their aromatic qualities, varietal typicity, fine tannins, and plush texture. Maturation in French oak provides another contrast to Grange. The result is a wine that redefines Barossa Valley Shiraz at the highest quality level. While delightfully approachable on release, RWT Bin 798 has the concentration and balance to age for many years.
The scents present as ripe with stonefruit and some cantaloupe. An interesting wine with lighter fruit that is well integrated. The palate shows very ripe and rich with dark fruits and medium tannins.
GRANGE 2022
The most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district blending philosophy, Grange is one of the world’s most celebrated wines and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Crafted utilising fully ripe, intensely flavoured, and structured Shiraz grapes, the result is a unique Australian style that is now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world’s great wines. With an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951, Grange clearly demonstrates the synergy between Shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia.
IN AN INSTANT – RETRO GRANGE, REFLECTING 75 YEARS OF LEARNING AND THE RE-EMERGENCE OF MEMORABLE VINTAGES OF THE PAST. SOARING IN SCOPE, TEMPERED BY STYLE, MANAGING EXPECTATIONS, AND SOME. IF OPENED, DEMANDS A DECANT. IF NOT OPENED, DEMANDS PATIENCE. NO HURRY.
– PETER GAGO, PENFOLDS CHIEF WINEMAKER
The wine was double decanted. The scents were exceptional. On the nose plum torte. The wine worked well with the sweeter dessert.
Leaner than I expected with quite a bit of acidity in the mouth. Light to medium tannins. Flavours of blackberry with some celery to finish.
2012, 2018, 2019, 2021 available at select B.C. Liquor stores, ranging from $960.00 to $1650.00
ST HENRI SHIRAZ 2022
St Henri is a distinguished and time-honoured expression within the Penfolds collection. First released in the 1950s, it is an enduring counterpoint to Grange, a Shiraz matured in seasoned vats to allow fruit purity and structure to take centre stage. A wine that proudly defies trends, it is grounded in tradition with a steadfast style upheld by generations of craftsmanship.
The 2022 is instantly recognisable as St Henri, a classic vintage that delivers in youth but promises to reward patience over the next two to three decades. Richly layered and fruit-forward, plush, and quietly powerful.
The wine is quite fruity on the nose. In the mouth it is lean but very nice. Medium tannins, a good texture to the wine. Medium body. Not overly fruity on the finish.
2020 available at select B.C. Liquor stores $164.99
Penfolds
MAKING REMARKABLE WINES SINCE 1844
The success of Penfolds has been driven by the generations of visionaries and innovators. From the beginning in 1844 to today, the merging of science, art and innovation has driven Penfolds to become one of Australia’s most famed and respected winemakers.
Penfolds acknowledges that the land on which Penfolds Magill Estate Winery stands is the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. Penfolds is committed to fostering a deeper understanding of the rich and enduring cultures of the Kaurna people who walked the rich soils before us.
Again, sorry if the winery notes don’t match the year of the wines we tasted. For this lunch we were served various vintages that were not all currently listed on the Penfolds website. Please note that the overview, vintages and availablity will vary from what was poured and tasted at the lunch. Overview notes courtesy of the winery. My notes (in italics). Bottle shots courtesy of the winery and B.C. Liquor Store website, feature image MyVanCity. Lunch with wine pairings was complimentary with thanks to Mark Anthony Group for the invitation.
