Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz

Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz is a 100% Shiraz from South Australia's Coonawarra region, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. One of the few Penfolds wines sourced entirely from a single region and aged exclusively in French oak, the 2016 vintage earned 96 points from the James Halliday Wine Companion.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Coonawarra, South Australia  |  Varietal: 100% Shiraz  |  Winery: Penfolds

Production & Heritage

Penfolds, one of Australia's most storied wine houses, has sourced shiraz fruit from Coonawarra for Bin 128 since the inaugural 1962 vintage — an unbroken regional commitment spanning over six decades. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks before the wine matures for 12 months in a combination of new and seasoned French oak hogsheads. The transition from American to French oak during the 1980s was a pivotal shift, giving Bin 128 a more refined, medium-bodied character that stands apart from the warmer-climate, American-oak-aged Bin 28 Shiraz and most other wines in the Penfolds portfolio.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark plum and ripe blackberry lead, followed by lifted cracked pepper and savoury spice. Subtle French oak contributes hints of dill and a gentle creaminess without overwhelming the fruit.

Taste: The palate opens with concentrated red and black plum fruit, transitioning through a creamy mid-palate layered with ginger spice and toffee nuance. Coonawarra's trademark limestone influence shapes a fine, focused tannic structure and a distinctive thread of bright acidity that keeps the wine taut and balanced.

Finish: Medium to long, with lingering blackberry and ginger-spice flavours supported by silky, limestone-like tannins. The acidity carries through cleanly, inviting another sip.

How to Drink Bin 128

Bin 128 shows best at cellar temperature — around 16–18°C — with 20 to 30 minutes of breathing time in a generously shaped glass to let the aromatics open. A Shiraz Old Fashioned using a muddled blackberry and cracked pepper syrup draws out the wine's core dark fruit and spice. A red wine Negroni substituting Bin 128 for sweet vermouth adds depth and a plummy backbone. For warmer weather, a Sangria built on Bin 128 with stone fruits and cinnamon sticks takes advantage of the wine's natural spice character.

Best For

• Introducing someone to premium Australian single-region Shiraz
• Pairing with a weekend lamb roast or barbecue dinner
• Building a vertical collection of Coonawarra Shiraz vintages
• Gifting a Penfolds enthusiast something outside the multi-region blends

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bin 128 taste like? Bin 128 delivers concentrated dark plum and blackberry fruit layered with cracked pepper, ginger spice, and a creamy French oak influence. The palate is medium-bodied and focused, with fine-grained tannins shaped by Coonawarra's limestone soils.

How does Bin 128 compare to Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz? Bin 28 is a multi-region, warm-climate blend matured in American oak, producing a more opulent and richly concentrated style, while Bin 128 is a single-region Coonawarra wine aged in French oak, delivering a more elegant, medium-bodied, and pepper-driven profile. Penfolds itself positions the two as deliberate counterpoints to each other within the Bin range.

Is Bin 128 good for cellaring? Bin 128's fine tannin structure and bright Coonawarra acidity give it solid aging potential, with most vintages drinking well over 8 to 15 years from harvest. It also drinks comfortably on release for those who prefer youthful fruit expression.

Where is Bin 128 made? Bin 128 is made by Penfolds using 100% Shiraz fruit sourced exclusively from the Coonawarra wine region in the Limestone Coast zone of South Australia. Coonawarra is renowned for its terra rossa soil over limestone and its cool-climate growing conditions.

What foods pair well with Bin 128? Slow-roasted lamb shoulder complements the wine's dark fruit and pepper spice. Chargrilled beef ribeye matches its medium body and tannin weight. Duck confit echoes the savoury, creamy character. Aged cheddar or Gruyère highlight the French oak nuance. Mushroom risotto plays to the earthy, spice-driven finish.

What sizes does Bin 128 come in? Bin 128 is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Bin 128 worth the price? Bin 128 sits in Penfolds' mid-tier Bin range, positioned above the entry-level Koonunga Hill wines but below the luxury Grange and RWT tiers. For a single-region, French-oak-matured Coonawarra Shiraz with over 60 years of continuous production history and consistent critical acclaim, it represents strong value within the premium Australian Shiraz category.

Why Bin 128?

Bin 128 occupies a genuinely unusual position in the Penfolds lineup: it is one of the very few expressions sourced entirely from a single region and one of the only wines in the portfolio aged exclusively in French rather than American oak. That combination gives it a personality distinct from the broader, more powerful Penfolds style — cooler-climate precision, limestone-driven tannins, and a restrained elegance that rewards attention. With an unbroken lineage from the 1962 inaugural vintage and scores reaching 96 points from the James Halliday Wine Companion, Bin 128 has earned its reputation as one of Australia's most reliable and distinctive Coonawarra Shiraz bottlings.