The Penfolds 2021 Bin 180 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz and gift box. Image courtesy Penfolds

Penfolds is celebrating 180 years of winemaking through the release of The Penfolds Collection 2024. Reaching the far corners of some of the most revered winemaking regions around the world, the 2024 Penfolds Collection spans four country of origin releases, with 25 wines made from vineyards across Australia, US, France, and China.

Alongside the 2024 Penfolds Collection, a commemorative Bin 180 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz 2021 will be released to honour Penfolds 180th anniversary milestone. Made from the outstanding 2021 Coonawarra vintage, the 2021 Bin 180 is a classic Penfolds wine, displaying the structure of Cabernet and the richness of Shiraz…

Cabernet Sauvignon from Block 10 and Shiraz from Block 5 are the source of Penfolds Bin 180. These blocks are some of the oldest and most symbolic plantings in the region and are consistent contributors to Grange, Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon and Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.

“Our goal was to craft a landmark wine to acknowledge Penfolds 180th Anniversary… Compellingly – the lure of outstanding parcels in barrel availed from the stellar 2021 Coonawarra harvest. Fatefully – testament to a pre-ordained and magical Australian varietal union – a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Resultingly – Penfolds 2021 Bin 180 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz,” said Penfolds chief winemaker, Peter Gago.

To celebrate the Bin 180 release, Penfolds has partnered with South Australian artisan Andrew Bartlett to design a limited-edition art piece to enclose the rare 3L jeroboam Bin 180 wines.

The design utilises barrel wood panels to represent 18 decades of Penfolds history, with the wooden cases were constructed from staves of Penfolds French oak barrels. Penfolds Bin 180 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz is available from Thursday 1 August in 750ml (RRP AUD$1,180), 1.5L (RRP AUD$3,500) and 3L (RRP AUD$18,000) formats. Only 180 magnums and 8 jeroboams are available globally.

“Our Penfolds Collection 2024 is testament to eighteen decades of innovation and invention, hard work, trials, mistakes … and the honing of a Penfolds House Style. We have a dedicated team working across the globe, covering viticultural regions in two hemispheres, allowing us to deliver an increasingly diverse and consistently excellent collection of wines each year,” said Gago.

Within The Penfolds Collection 2024, highlights include:

• Australian Release: Penfolds flagship 2020 Grange leads the charge, showcasing the very best parcels of South Australian Shiraz from the 2020 vintage. Of this new release, Peter Gago says “Assured and distinctive, this Grange will appease and reward.” Sharing the spotlight is the 2022 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon – a wine celebrating 60 years since its first release (1964). Full-bodied and with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 holds a significance among generations of wine collectors and today a secure place among the ranks of the world’s finest Cabernets. Gago shared his thoughts on the 2024 release, saying “Watchouts from this 2024 Penfolds Collection? Not unlike with the 2021 vintage, continue to keep a close eye on the blend inclusion of any parcels out of Coonawarra in 2022.”

• US Release: A continuation of an endeavour started over 20 years ago, when Penfolds winemakers first explored Californian soils. This year’s US release includes Penfolds Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz and the newer stablemate, a Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc – all from the 2021 vintage.

• French Release: The third release from Penfolds partnership with one of Bordeaux’s most respected winemaking Houses, Dourthe – Penfolds II Cabernet Sauvignon 2022. “2022 Cabernet from the soils of Bordeaux blended with 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon from distant vineyards in South Australia – an alliance that continues to surprise and reward,” said Gago.

• China Release: The 2024 Collection welcomes the second release of CWT (Chinese Winemaking Trial) 521 Cabernet Sauvignon Marselan. The 2022 vintage trial wine blends Cabernet Sauvignon from Shangri-La and Marselan from Ningxia. Matt Woo, Penfolds Red Winemaker responsible for crafting CWT alongside Penfolds China based winemaking team said “In the spirit of trial and experimentation, Penfolds has married two varieties, sourced from two viticultural regions, on a continent far from home. Does it work? It sure does! The structural framework from the Cabernet Sauvignon melded with the rich, generous palate of Marselan in a harmonious synergy. A wonderful follow up to the inaugural 2021 release.”

The wines of The Penfolds Collection 2024 will be available globally from Thursday 1 August 2024.

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