“One minute of patience, ten years of peace,” says the old Greek proverb. As the world continues to move at breakneck speed, patience is a virtue that is becoming harder to find in people, let alone practice yourself. But for those who can carve out some time and wait, good things will come.
Nowhere is patience more valued and appreciated than in the world of wine. Vines are planted, grapes are grown, seasons change and eventually, after a methodical process involving viticultural skill and instinct honed from years of experience, wine is produced, bottled, and tasted – although not always immediately.
Beginning a wine collection can be a daunting prospect, not only because of the sheer number of wines that are produced around the world but also because of the perceived financial implications and the knowledge and patience required. What grape? What year? What region? Wine can be a mystifying topic.
But at Penfolds, the famous wine producer founded in Australia in 1844, this mystery is a little easier to unpick. Over the last 70 years, Penfolds Grange has gained a reputation as one of the world’s most collected wines thanks to its impressive ageing potential, sitting alongside the great Chateaux of Bordeaux and Burgundy as icons of the wine world. Such is the reputation of Penfolds Grange that it was bestowed with heritage status by its home state of South Australia.
However, elsewhere in the cellars of Penfolds, not far from Adelaide in Australia’s sun-soaked south, lies a wine that is whispered about with reverence and affection by both enthusiasts and collectors: Bin 389.
For this legendary wine, thanks must be paid to Max Schubert, a man who started his career at Penfolds as a messenger boy in 1931 but who, 30 years later, changed the Australian wine industry forever with his maverick spirit craftsmanship and self-belief. Known as the ‘Baby Grange’ because of its ageing taking place in barrels previously used for Penfolds Grange, Bin 389 was first produced by Schubert in 1960. Due to its treasured links with Penfolds Grange, Bin 389 has gained something of a cult following among wine collectors and is an excellent jumping-off point for those who want to embark on their collection.
Almost universally lauded by critics for their excellent ageing potential year after year, Bin 389 wines are some of the most sought-after wines on the market. Its most recent release, the 2021 vintage Bin 389, is a particular highlight, as Penfolds red winemaker, Andrew Baldwin explains. “In a vintage as strong as 2021, parcels of grapes that may have otherwise found their way higher up the Penfolds ranks have been used to craft Bin 389,” he says.
One of the world’s foremost experts on Australian wine, Matthew Jukes, described the 2021 release of Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz as “fascinating” and added, “The tannins are feisty and firm, so while it is not a lavish big black limo of a Bin 389, it is going to travel just as far! Spice, blueberry notes, blackcurrants and pepper, five spice, mint, the list goes on.”
Offering a beautiful balance of fruit and oak, 2021 Bin 389 combines the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz to provide a wine with notes of cocoa powder, black and red fruit, plus other savoury flavours such as cured pastrami, salted beef and roast lamb for a deep and complex tasting experience.
Likely to rise in price and sure to evolve in flavour over the years, the ageing potential of Bin 389 can be measured in decades rather than years. Winemakers predict the 2021 vintage will reach its peak drinking window from 2025 until 2055. Fledgling wine fans looking to set in motion their collection while finding real value could explore Bin 389 and, in doing so, take a leaf out of the book of Max Schubert – a pioneer with patience. Discover more about the story of Bin 389 at penfolds.com/bin389
Penfolds is available at African + Eastern stores in the UAE and online at www.africaneasterndxb.com