WTN: Penfolds Bin 389 1998

Lockdown Wine #72. 10th bottle from the first full case of wine I bought. Be sure to decant for sediment. Still pretty dark. Just a hint of brown on the edge. 45 minutes in the glass. Roast meat, a little mint, ripe red and black fruit, Quite an attractive nose, though a little hot. A touch over medium bodied. The fruit sweetness is starting to fade on the palate, although it's still making an appearance. The acidity is becoming more pronounced. Tannins are fairly soft. I think just past peak or it might be at an awkward stage. Not sure how this is going to develop. So far, not a lot of tertiary notes coming out. Still a very good wine, though. Particularly nice with some cheese. But I preferred it maybe 5 years back. Good length. Some herbal notes coming out in the finish. 2 more bottles to go. Hopefully it develops more instead of fading or declining.

[David M. Bueker]

Pricing on this bottling has not escalated in the same was as with some of their other wines.

[Jenise]

The '96 is beautiful, has that tertiary thing you're looking for. Hope the '98 gets there someday.

The '96 and '98 were the vintages I really got into this wine!
Haven't bought much Aussie since then really
Thanks for notes

Still have a 93 and a couple of 95s, but for some reqson I skipped the 98. I have a case of 2000 I have started in on and it drinks quite well.