Penfolds Bin 389 2004

"DavidW" skrev i melding news:TDiYm.65$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe08.iad...

This wine will be good for many years, but, afaik, it is quite drinkable even now. Any (clean) jug will do, pour it in about one hour in advance and put somewhere with a suitable temperature (18C/64F). I don't think it will have much sediment, if any, but pour slowly and watch against a light source to see through the neck if any appears and stop pouring then. (A coffee filter might be handy then if you want to get as much wine as possible in a separate glass, have a taste and decide whether you want to cover the jug/carafe :-) hth Anders

Thanks. Just FYI, this wine was cellared by Penfolds till it was released to the retailer, so I am its first retail buyer. Five years is the norm for Grange, so I assume it's the same for Bin 389. Someone on the radio the other day described it as "the poor man's Grange."

"Poor man's Grange" because some of the new vintage 389 goes into oak used previously to mature Grange. I suppose the theory is that the 389 will absorb Grange that has leached into those barrels.

For what it's worth here's my April 2009 notes for the 2006: "Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet/Shiraz 2006 - up to $60 AUD - Year in, year out, this wine remains one of my all-time favourite Australian reds - this vintage maintains the quality. Dense to opaque in appearance. The nose is complex, with blueberries, tobacco, cherry liqueur, and leather. The palate is solid, savoury, and chewy, with hints of plums, blackcurrants, liquorice allsorts, and a slight earthiness. Will cellar happily to at least 2020."

Cheers!

Martin

Do you mean 2006 or 2004? I didn't think 2006 would have been released yet, but maybe I'm mistaken about the five years I mentioned elsewhere and the cellar release of the 2004 I have was in addition to an earlier release.

Anyway, thanks. Sounds great. It gets opened in a few hours.