The Auswine Forum

Thought it was about the right time to try one of these. Bottle was in excellent condition, no ullage, perfect cork, excellent colour for a 10 yr old wine, very clean, no browning at all, nose was good and it drank well, but on the palate it just wasn’t exciting, there was nothing special or distinct about it. Contrast this to an 87 consumed over Christmas which was full of ‘character’, loads of ‘cigar box’ aged qualities, it really was an exciting wine to drink, loved it.

The 94 will in time develop much more character, another 5 or 10 years should do it whereupon it will shine. I’ve been caught out a few times with 389’s, they can drink very well when young but seem to go into an extended slumber, but boy, do they come out of their cacoons as magnificent, colourful, and beautiful ‘butterflies’. The trick is judging when that time is. For the 87 it’s now, for the 94 it’s not for years as it’s still very much asleep.

What's your experience with 389?

The '96 rates extremely highly with the otherworldly '86 and the superb '71 (still drinking beautifully late last year!).

IMO, the 1996 Bin 389 was the last high point for the Bin range, an excellent wine that leaves me annoyed about what's happened to these labels since.

A close friend recently had a 1994 Bin 389 and raved about it, I'l pull one out to try once the weather cools in autumn.

Every 1986 I've had has drunk well although I'm out of them now unfortunately. I often wonder which vineyard resources went into the 86 and where those same resources are now targetted. I think they may go further up the Penfolds tree than Bin 389 which is of course one of the quality problems they now have.

707 wrote:IMO, the 1996 Bin 389 was the last high point for the Bin range, an excellent wine that leaves me annoyed about what's happened to these labels since.

A close friend recently had a 1994 Bin 389 and raved about it, I'l pull one out to try once the weather cools in autumn.

Every 1986 I've had has drunk well although I'm out of them now unfortunately. I often wonder which vineyard resources went into the 86 and where those same resources are now targetted. I think they may go further up the Penfolds tree than Bin 389 which is of course one of the quality problems they now have.

I wasn't too excited about the 1994 last year when I had it. Loads of tannin still. 1986 is easily the pick for mine, although like most, believe that the 1996 will rival any vintage given time. It (the 96) is drinking well now. i.e. if it has gone into a slumber then it's still pretty impressive.