Winemaker Notes:
A bright, crimson red color. The nose is lifted, fragrant and immediately Penfolds. Aficionados may quickly identify and proclaim 389. Aromas like that of layers of custard and port-wine dark jelly with flaked coconut and juniper/cassis. Or old-fashioned hummingbird cake, with coconut flakes and nutty flavors. Familial youthful Bin 389 oak – subtle matchstick and a hint of vanilla powder. As they say – what is there not to like?! The palate is a balance of the sweet (Cabernet) and the savory (Shiraz). The wine possesses what has now often been referred to as a black forest cake 2018 vintage flavor profile. Darker fruits – closer to that of a black cherry liqueur than a crème de cassis component of Kir. Oak and tannins absorbed. Both are certainly present, yet not at all demanding their own space on this Bin 389 stage. Substantial and intense.
Drinking well now, but will improve with time. Peak drinking 2023- 2050.
 
Critical Acclaim:
RP93
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Hints of toasted coconut accent big cassis aromas on the nose of the 2018 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, which is a 57-43 blend this vintage. Full-bodied, with cherry flesh complementing the sterner cassis and tobacco notes, it's supple enough to be approachable now, yet with the concentration and requisite dusty tannins on the long finish to support more than a decade of aging.
 
WW92
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The Penfolds Bin 389 has been one of the world's top examples of the Cabernet-Shiraz blends. The 2018 vintage continues this wine's success story. TASTING NOTES: This wine deftly combines red and black fruit aromas and flavors with notes of minerality and savory spices. Enjoy it with a well-seasoned, slow-cooked beef stew. (Tasted: August 29, 2020, San Francisco, CA)