Classical Bin 389 with intense blackberry, dark chocolate, mocha aromas and roasted almond, roasted chestnut, hint sesame nuances. Generous, smooth and velvety with ample blackberry, dark chocolate, roasted chestnut/ roasted walnut, grilled nut flavours, fine looseknit chocolaty tannins, beautifully integrated oak complexity and sinuous long fresh minerally saline acidity. A superb vintage which will develop and improve further with bottle age. A keeper.

This is a truly great 389, perhaps the best ever. A blend of McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully and Padthaway. Dark maroon in colour, the aromas include plums, mulberries, mocha, leather, tobacco leaves, dry herbs and hints of a freshly rolled cigar plus a touch of blueberries. Finesse yet intensity, focus and direction, and balance. Notes of chocolate, licorice and blueberries emerge on the palate. Wonderful stuff, the score that has every chance of going even higher.

A wine of great generosity and power that is typical of this famous blend and bin. It’s from multi regions and typically has been matured in 100% American oak of which 37% was new. Plush dark fruits with hints of licorice, peppery savouriness and little of that crushed ants character that has been synonymous with this wine and its big brother Grange. There’s a delightful, sweet chocolate richness with plump ripe fruit evident. Has a rich compote of fruit character.