Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz

Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz is a South Australian red labelled at 14.5% ABV. Bin 28 was long sold under the Kalimna name, and the reference material describes it as typically blended from Shiraz grown across several South Australian regions. Expect the style that implies: a full-bodied red built on ripe blackberry and dark plum fruit, with warm baking-spice and pepper notes, and a smooth, generous mid-palate rather than a lean or angular one. With alcohol at this level, expect a rounded, slightly warming finish. Shiraz in this idiom usually has moderate acidity and ripe, softened tannins, and oak is generally supportive rather than dominant. Look for hints of vanilla or cedar in the background, not a toasty, front-and-centre oak character. That weight and fruit concentration make it a natural partner for food with some richness and char. Grilled or barbecued beef, lamb shoulder or chops with rosemary, sausages, and slow-braised short rib all match its body, and the pepper-spice in the wine suits peppered steak or a mushroom-heavy sauce. Hard, aged cheeses such as cheddar or aged Gouda hold up well, while delicate fish and light salads will be overwhelmed. For vegetarian dishes, try roasted aubergine, lentil stews or grilled portobello. Serve it slightly below room temperature, around 16 to 18°C. A big red at a warm room temperature can taste hot and flabby, especially at 14.5%. Thirty minutes in the fridge before opening is usually enough in a heated house. A wine in this style is built to be approachable on release, so a decanter isn't required. If you do pour it into one, an hour of air can loosen the fruit and soften any youthful grip. Use a large-bowled red wine glass, which gives the aromatics room and lets the spice and fruit come through. Bin 28 is positioned as an approachable, everyday expression of the Penfolds Shiraz style, so treat it as a drink-now bottle. It will be enjoyable on opening and doesn't need cellaring to show its best. Wines of this type can hold for a few years in a cool, dark spot with the bottle on its side, but there's no need to wait.