Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Bin 707 is a perfect cabernet sauvignon representation of Penfolds ‘House Style’: intensely-flavoured fruit; completion of fermentation and maturation in new oak; expressing a Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi-region fruit sourcing.

Inspired by the iconic jet that took it to the world. The rich and powerful Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, is Penfolds first commercial release of a single cabernet-based wine, is linked to Max Schubert’s dream of making a great Australian red wine that could last at least 20 years. During the ‘50s and early ‘60s cabernet sauvignon was mostly used for blending, but Schubert’s breakthrough with the varietal as a stand-alone wine came in 1964 with 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 red-purple; concentrated, ripe, cassis and blackberry fruit leaps from the glass, with oak present but trailing behind. The palate is as rich, ripe, succulent and concentrated as the bouquet suggests, redolent with cassis, and long, lingering tannins. - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion, 97 Points

Drinking well, but will improve with time. Peak drinking now to 2045.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Cabernet Sauvignon
Country - Australia
Region - Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, McLaren Vale
Vintage - 1996
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
Closure - Cork