What's the 411 on Penfold's Bin 2002 release.

Our "own" Martin Field recently published his notes on the '02 Penfolds at

Good question. I'd guess that Southcorp has probably investigated that question in detail after their acquisition of Penfolds. That they haven't changed the labeling suggests to me that brand recognition probably trumps whatever confusion might arise from the Bin numbering.

Mark Lipton

Hi Mat - was just about to toss out my hard copies of the 2002 release notes from Penfolds. Some of the'02 range is being compared to '96 and'98 by chief winemaker Peter Gago. Excerpts follow.

Bin 28 - "Arguably the best Bin 28 release since 1998." (PG) RRP $24 - $26 (Aus)

Bin 128 - (in a nutshell cellar for five years plus) - "...tight and defined as one would expect, it is also truer to style than the nose may suggest at this stage of the wine's evolution." RRP $24 - $26 (Aus)

138 GSM - "true to style....continues to showcase old vine Barossa red varieties, unaided by new oak or elevated alcohol levels." (PG) RRP $24 - $26 (Aus) 407 Cab Sauv - "... at least the equal of any Bin 407 back to the 1996 Vintage... Proudly 100% Cabernet!" (PG) RRP over $30 (Aus)

Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz - "A classic Bin 389, right up there with the best... the 1996 comes to mind. Perfect for long term cellaring of at least

12 years." RRP over $40 (Aus)

Cheers

wn

In general I don't think the 2002 range is as good as the '98s. They are good wines, thugh and decent value on a value/quality check. Peter Gago has always waxed a little lyrical, however, as long as I have known him.

Ron Lel

I love the Penfold's label. You know where their money is NOT going. But I agree with you - you would think they would put maybe a special emblem or something on their label for the reserve and higher end bottles (maybe a gold star or something). Of course, maybe they think most people can figure out from the price which ones are the low end and which ones are the high end.

FWIW, I think the penfold's lower end stuff is usually as enjoyable as most other wineries' high end stuff.

Hi Mark,

Thanks for that link. And thanks to Martin especially.

Southcorp made an awful mess of a lot of its business and the wineries it gulped up. So I'm not too sure I'd have a lot of faith in what Southcorp gets up to.

But yes, they are quite recognisable in their simplicity. I will make some other comments in my other replies.

Thanks again,

Mat.

Hi Mr. Ninja,

Thanks a lot for the notes.

Mat.

Hi Ron,

I haven't had the pleasure of the '98s as yet, but it seems any one who has ever bought a bottle of wine goes "O the 98, that was a fantastic year" as though not one variety in one region was not fantastic. :D

Yeah in regards to the lyrical waxing, I mean like I don't know if the ads just copy and paste Gago's press release into their pamphlets of what. It just seemed a little bit out of the ordinary for every brochure I picked up to be banging the reader over the head about how good the new releases are.

Thanks a lot,

Mat.

Hello hot potato,

Yeah, that is a point. Plain label == better wine in theory.

But its a double edged sword, whilst you and I might be able to tell the difference between a bin 707 and a Koonunga Hill [at least on the label hopefully], for the everyman that might not be the case.

So one who is trying to impress dinner guests would go for a fancy schmancy faux-Bordeaux label like Kingston Estate was using up until about 2000 I think, at least for the petit verdot. Which IIRC I paid less than $10 on clearance. It was actually quite drinkable too.

"Ooo doesn't that look fancy? That must be expensive!" "Yes, I know a guy. Lets just say it cost what it cost."

So I think they won't win an awful lot of bulk custom in the say $15 up range purely for that reason. Only from ppl who have a little wine knowledge.

As for the Penfold's lower end stuff, it is usually quaffable, but nothing particuarly special I think.

But then there is a contention in Australia that a lot of say $15 and up wine is particuarly overpriced, which is why you always get lines like "A better wine than some in this class that are more than twice the price".

I mean as I pointed out so someone I knew who was drinking $60 from some Beringer Blass stable, how would you know it wasn't worth $60? I mean you could charge $600 for it, but it is the economics of supply and demand.

And if ppl are willing to be supplied at $60 a throw for something they've never heard of simply because it is $60, then you can demand $60.

Or the guy who was buying Metala shiraz cabernet [a Saltram IIRC] for $20 and thinking he was drinking a slightly better class of wine simply for that fact [it was $20 and had a fancy schmancy label]. Until I pointed out it is often at about $12.50 in Dan's. Yes Dan's. ;)

Mat.