Penfolds "Bin 28" 2020 Shiraz, South Australia

Penfolds’ 2020 “Bin 28” Shiraz is exactly what it promises—a showcase of warm-climate Aussie shiraz done with clarity and style. It opens with polished dark fruit: ripe blackcurrant, plum, cocoa powder, and cola, backed by a nod to earthy “ras el hanout” spices—paprika, cinnamon, fennel and all. It’s serious warmth, but composed. 

On the palate, it resolves with plush depth. Imagine chocolate mudcake layered with poached red cherries and coconut shavings—yes, a Bounty bar vibe—culminating in plum pudding with crème anglaise. All of that sits on a frame of polished tannins and gentle structure. 

But this isn’t just flavor for the sake of it—it’s built on story and lineage. Bin 28 was first crafted in 1959 as Penfolds’ earliest “Bin” wine, originally made from the Barossa Valley’s Kalimna vineyard. Since then, it’s evolved into a multi-region shiraz, still anchored in Barossa but enriched by McLaren Vale, Padthaway, and Clare Valley. 

This version reflects a tough vintage—drought through winter, frosts in spring, a heatwave in December—but with skilled intervention. Fruit was harvested from select pockets, then aged 12 months in American hogsheads (16% new), holding the generous fruit while adding smoothing spice. 

This is Bin 28 calling for company, not ceremony. It brings Napa warmth with Barossa soul: inviting now, but with enough layered depth to follow you over the years.