2018 Penfolds Bin 169 Cabernet Sauvignon

2018 Penfolds Bin 169 Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful yet finely tailored expression of top-tier Australian Cabernet. Crafted in limited quantities, it captures the pure, sculpted character of Coonawarra fruit polished by fine-grained French oak. This Bin release represents Penfolds’ modern, site-focused approach, while still echoing the house’s hallmark structure and longevity that have defined the winery since 1844.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2018 Bin 169 shows a deep, inky crimson core with a vibrant purple rim, indicating both concentration and youth. The nose is immediately evocative of Coonawarra: blackcurrant and cassis layered with dark cherry, black plum and hints of mulberry, framed by graphite, pencil shavings and cedar from French oak. Subtle notes of dried herbs, bay leaf, eucalyptus, tobacco leaf and cocoa powder add complexity and lift. On the palate, this is a structured yet refined Cabernet, with a core of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry and cassis coulis wrapped in finely woven, powdery tannins. Fresh acidity keeps the wine poised, while nuances of mocha, cigar box, espresso bean and baking spices unfold with air. The finish is long and persistent, echoing dark fruit, graphite and savoury oak. Built for the long haul, the 2018 vintage offers immediate pleasure with decanting but will reward patience, with an optimal drinking window stretching over 15–20 years or more in a good cellar.

Production
Bin 169 is sourced predominantly from Penfolds’ long-established Cabernet vineyards in Coonawarra, a region famed for its terra rossa soils over limestone, cool nights and long, even ripening season. These conditions produce Cabernet of purity, line and distinctive regional character. Grapes are typically hand-picked at optimal ripeness, parcel-selected and vinified separately to preserve site expression. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel, with careful extraction to build structure without harshness. The best parcels are then matured in fine-grained French oak hogsheads—largely new or recent-vintage barrels—to enhance perfume, line and length, prior to a meticulous selection and blending that defines the Bin 169 style.

Food & Serving
This is a serious Cabernet that shines alongside richly flavoured dishes: think roast lamb with rosemary, dry-aged ribeye, beef Wellington, venison with juniper, or slow-braised short ribs. It also pairs beautifully with mature hard cheeses such as aged cheddar or Comté. Serve at 16–18°C, ideally after 1–2 hours in a decanter to allow the aromatics and tannins to unfurl. In its youth, a longer decant will help reveal the wine’s depth; with age, a gentle, shorter aeration is sufficient.

Producer
Founded in 1844 by Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold and his wife Mary on Magill Estate near Adelaide, Penfolds is Australia’s most iconic and historically significant winery. What began as a small operation making fortified wines for medicinal use has evolved into a benchmark producer whose top bottlings, including Grange and the Bin series, helped put Australian fine wine on the world map. Visionary winemaker Max Schubert transformed Penfolds in the mid-20th century, pioneering ageworthy, multi-regional blends and securing a legacy that now includes countless international accolades and the status of Grange 1955 as a recognised Australian cultural treasure. Today, under Chief Winemaker Peter Gago, Penfolds continues to define the standard for Australian Cabernet and Shiraz, consistently ranked among the world’s most admired wine brands.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.