Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Inspired by the iconic jet that took it to the world, the rich and powerful, Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon is linked to Max Schubert’s dream of making a great Australian red wine that could last at least 20 years. During the 1950s and early 1960s Cabernet Sauvignon was mostly used for blending, but Schubert’s breakthrough with the varietal as a stand-alone wine came in 1964 with the inaugural vintage. Early Bin 707s were typically open fermented under wax-lined header boards and matured in seasoned old oak (rather than new oak). The wine was not made from 1970 to 1975 (when fruit was directed to other wines) nor in 1981, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2011 or 2017 (when fruit of the required style and quality was not available). Full-bodied and with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 retains a secure place among the ranks of Australia’s finest Cabernets. On the palate a solid Cabernet core is immediately apparent, with fruits to the fore (juicy blackcurrant) and a black olive concentration. Texturally, the fine weave of a tapestry - a thread of rhubarb/cranberry natural acidity, wrapped around a mesh of slinky tannins. A dark chocolate graininess, cedar and a savoury disposition contribute to the layering, length and longevity potential of this wine.
