Penfolds Collection 2025

Barry Weinman: 7^th August 2025

The most important release in the Australian wine calendar each year is the Penfolds Collection. This includes all premium “Bin” reds from the Bin 28 and whites from Bin 51 Riesling upwards.

And I was extremely fortunate to be able to sit down with the legendary Peter Gago to taste through the range and get Peter’s unique insights into the making of the wines.

Whilst wines like Grange and Bin 707 rightly garner great attention, it is the sheer breadth of high-quality wines that is most remarkable.

And this is not limited to just Australian wines, it also encompasses France and the USA, with wines from China under development.

And whilst the red wines are what made Penfolds famous, the quality of the whites is right up there, and on a bang-for-your-buck basis, significantly over-deliver.

From a value perspective, If I had to pick one red wine and one white wine to cellar, the St Henri and Reserve Bin 24A would be my picks. Fortunately, I do not have to limit my selection to just two wines :).

Penfolds Collection 2025 – The Whites

The 2025 Bin 51 is as good, if not better than any wine preciously released under this label, but for me, the greatest value lies with the Reserve Bin 24A. A superb wine and a bargain in the context of the range.

Reviewed

Penfolds – Bin 51 – Riesling – 2025. A beautiful purity of fruit here. Lime/citrus notes abound, but there is so much depth of fruit behind this. That purity continues on a palate, which is fine, elegant and supple. The acid balance is a highlight, the finish remarkably seamless for a wine that is just at the start of its journey. Minerality, hints of toast, mouth-filling texture all contribute. A superb effort. 2025 was a drier than average vintage in the Eden Valley, resulting in exceptional quality, but reduced volumes. 10.5% alc, 96pts.

Penfolds – Bin 311 – Chardonnay – 2024. This was really quite reserved and shy on the nose; however the quality really expressed on the palate. Creamy, peach-like fruit floods the mouth, supported by gently toasted oak that provides the backbone on which the fruit is built. Remarkably, this is seamless and fine despite the oak (18% new, 8 months) and acidity, and has excellent line and length. Similar fruit sources to Yattarna (Tumbarumba, Tasmania, Adelaide). Excellent line and length. Supple. Lacks the ultimate depth of its big brothers, but is a remarkable drink already. 13% alc, 94pts.

Penfolds – Reserve Bin A – Chardonnay – 2024. The increase in depth and power compared to Bin 311 is quite stunning. Doughnut, peach and nectarine characters abound. The oak (50% new) has been completely subsumed into the wine, adding a textural framework, and allowing the fruit to be the primary focus. And how good is that fruit? Quite stunning. This is already superb drinking today, but will gain greatly with time in the cellar. A powerhouse of a wine which is uncompromising in its quality. Counter-intuitively, the longer this sat in the glass, the finer it showed, with the texture greatly adding to the package. My pick of the whites this release. Fruit sourced from the Adelaide hills. In the winery, this had regular battonage and underwent 100% malolactic fermentation. 12.5% alc – 96pts.

Penfolds – Yattarna – Chardonnay 2023 The contrast between this and the Reserve Bin A is stark. Whereas the former was all about overt power, the Yattarna is focused on elegance and poise. Not delicate, but restrained and shy, needing time to slowly uncoil and show its colours. And when it does, you will be rewarded by a spectacular wine of great purity and depth. The aromas and flavours evolve and build over time, throwing up images of stonefruit, citrus (orange blossom) and subtle spice. The oak (60% new) is invisible for all intent and purpose, but is a key component of the wine. After two hours sitting in the glass, the power was on full show. Nougat notes adding complexity to the fruit flavours. Fruit comes from Tumbarumba, Adelaide Hills and Tasmania. Only Grange and Bin 707 sit above this wine in the current Australian Penfolds lineup. 12.5% alc – 97pts.

Penfolds Collection 2025 – The Bin Wines

When I started collecting wine as an 18-year-old, Penfolds Bin 28 formed the foundation of my cellar, supported by Bin 128 and, when funds permitted (or there were sales) Bin 389.

Bin 407 had only recently been added to the range, and presented another alternative, one that, if anything, was even better early drinking. And judging by what is left in my cellar, was the one that I drank in preference at the time.

Over time, the Bin range has expanded, but 28, 128 and 389 still form the foundation. What has changed though is the pecking order of the wines in the range.

Bin 28 (along with 138 and recently Bin 21) are the starting point, with Bin 128 now elevated in price sitting on its own, between Bin 28 and Bin 150. Meanwhile, Bin 407 has been further elevated, sitting alongside Bin 389 in the range.

Regardless of where you look however, the quality and consistency of the wines is unchanged. Bin 128 is, for example, not a better wine than Bin 28 per se, but it is a single region wine, and has a degree of exclusivity about it.

Reviewed

Penfolds – Bin 23 – Pinot Noir – 2024. Looks like pinot, smells like pinot, tastes like pinot. The berry fruit is a highlight, combined with some supple whole-bunch stalkiness that adds freshness and structure. This is much less about Penfolds, and more about high quality pinot that has been expertly handled in the winery. Supple, silky and generously textured, this is a lovely drink now. Primarily matured in French oak barriques, but a small proportion (8%) of the wine was aged in amphora. 13.5% alc, 94pts.

Penfolds – Bin 21 – Grenache – 2024. The colour is a step up from the pinot, but this is still translucent compared to the other Bin wines. This wine highlights the prettiness of grenache: Perfumed, but with more structure and depth than some. But it is the wine’s presence in the mouth that makes this a highlight. There is serious depth behind the fruit and the winemaking has allowed the fruit to shine, avoiding any artifact. That said, there is enough structure to ensure that this is a serious wine, but of all the wines, this (along with the Bin 23) is the wine that I would choose to drink now. Fruit comes from Barossa and McLaren Vale, and was matured in a combination of French and American oak of which only a small portion was new. 14.5% alc 94+pts.

Penfolds – Bin 138 – Shiraz/Grenache/Mourvèdre – 2023. The components for this wine were vinified separately, which is the opposite of the usual Penfolds approach. This is a much more structured wine than the Grenache, but there is still a degree of approachability that is disarming, making for a wonderful drink today. The fruit takes on more plum-like tones, with savoury notes and oak adding depth. Excellent drinking now with food, or give it 10 years in the cellar to let it start to hit its peak. 14.5% alc – 95pts.

Penfolds – Bin 128 – Shiraz – 2023. This is a remarkable wine, as this is not about Penfolds, it is about classical cool climate shiraz of very high quality. The fruit is clearly cooler, more elegant, fine and restrained, with hints of mint and spice reinforcing the cooler-climate theme. The palate is supple and silky, but this is the first of the wines that really needs aging to hit its straps. 10 years in the cellar will help, but 20 years may be even more beneficial. The most elegant of Penfolds wines. Aged in French oak, 26% new. 14.5% alc – 95pts.

Penfolds – Bin 150 – Marananga – Shiraz – 2023. This is a step up in every way. Ripe fruit, that takes on an almost chocolate-like hue. There is a density to the wine that is quite remarkable, given that this is tending towards medium bodied (as far as Barossa shiraz goes). But it is the texture, length and persistence on the palate that sets this apart. The silky oak is a highlight, and is a combination of French and American, with about 25% being new. Ultimately, the graphite-like tannins shut things down, ensuring that the wine will have a very long future, but if combined with a hearty dish like lamb shanks would be a treat now. A wonderful wine that could be drunk anytime over the next 20 years. 14.5% alc, 95pts.

Penfolds – Bin 407 – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2023. This is quite profound, yet I struggled to come up with any meaningful descriptors, as the fruit is quite shy at this early stage, especially when combined with the silky winemaking. There is an amazing presence that left me sitting for minutes pondering the depths of this wine. Patience is required, but this will be a lovely wine in time. Aged in French and American oak Hogsheads for 12 months, the fruit coming from Padthaway, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Barossa and Wrattonbully. 14.5% alc – 96pts.

Penfolds – Bin 389 – Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz – 2023. I have always loved 389, and this is no different in that regard. But what has been fascinating to see over my lifetime is how the style has become ever more refined, without losing its personality. This is refined, elegant and supple, with ever-so-fine tannins and oak. The fruit quality is exemplary, but it is rather reserved and shy. But it is the mouthfeel and texture that sets this wine apart. With air, the blueberry fruit builds and builds along with hints of clove and spice. Fruit comes from McLaren Vale, Padthaway and Barossa, and spent 12 months in American oak hogsheads (33% new). 14.5% alc – 96pts.

Penfolds Collection 2025: St Henri to Grange and more

Penfolds – St Henri – Shiraz – 2022. This is a spectacular wine. Dense, powerful, intense and rich, yet remarkably, also balanced, silky, supple and quite brilliant. I can’t come up with enough superlatives to describe the wine (Yes, it is that good). Ultimately, the tannins really build on the finish, ensuring a 30+ year life ahead. As always, the wine sees no new oak. The fruit comes from Barossa, McLaren Vale and Padthaway and in 2022 included 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. A great vintage for St Henri. 14.5% alc – 97pts.

Penfolds – Magill Estate – Shiraz – 2023. My first sniff of this wine produced an “oh wow” moment. The fruit is perfectly ripe, seductive and succulent, but with great depth sitting behind the supple exterior. There is depth, power, a silky texture and great intensity. On the very close, the tannins are prolific, but also extraordinarily fine. Whilst it may benefit a couple of decades of cellaring, this is a remarkable wine as the purity of fruit is something to behold. Aged in a combination of French and American oak (1/3 new). The Magill vineyards are currently undergoing a rejuvenation project, with new plantings now coming on stream. A national treasure. 14.5% alc – 97pts.

Penfolds – RWT Bin 798 – Shiraz – 2023. I love this wine. The dense fruit has plum, chocolate and coffee notes and is succulent, supple and slurpable. And then… on the finish, it starts to show its true colours. Structured, dense, textured and very powerful. The finish is amazing, as is the fruit quality. A remarkable wine such is the density and power.
The contrast between the St Henri, Magill and RWT is fascinating. The RWT is the finest, most sophisticated of the three. On first impression, the forward nature of the fruit of the other two grabbed attention. But this wine sat quietly and confidently in a different style and stamped its authority once it had time to open in the glass. From the Barossa, the fruit spent 14 months in French oak (69% new).14.5% alc, 96-97pts.

Penfolds – Bin 707 – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2023. Wow, wow, WOW. This is just spectacular. Depth, silky, power, texture. Blueberry, pristine fruit, subtle power, intensity. But it is the mouthfeel and texture that sets this apart. A wonderful wine that is both silky and infused with innate power. An amazing, remarkable wine. With an hour in the glass, the tension between the fruit and structure was, if anything, more pronounced. The nervous energy palpable. Yet still, it remained silky and fine despite the formidable power. The fruit (McLaren Vale, Padthaway and Barossa) was aged for 18 months in new American oak hogsheads. 97pts +

Penfolds – Grange – Shiraz – 2021. Oh so Grange. And oh so good. What a wine. Power, intensity, depth. Here the fruit is firmly in the plum spectrum, whilst the oak is invisible for all intent and purpose. This is a wine that is supple, subtle, intense, powerful, fine, elegant and seamless all at the same time. Evocative, this is the essence of fine wine. Mint, pepper and spice all unfold over time. The fruit moves to blueberry. The length of flavours and textures are something to behold. Beautiful. The inclusion of 8% Clare Valley fruit makes an impact. It is hard to move on from this wine. One of the world’s truly great wines. After sitting in the glass for more than an hour, the innate power was much more evident, with layers of chocolate, coffee and spice unfurling over time. Yet the fruit powered on. Spectacular, age-worthy, Penfolds!

In 2021 the grapes came from Barossa, McLaren and Clare and included 6% Cabernet and was aged for 18 months in new American oak hogsheads. 14.5% alc – 98pts.

Penfolds Collection 2025 – The best of the rest of the world.

The Penfolds juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down, with an ever-increasing array of wines being produced from France, the USA and China. Some of these wines are still in the developmental stage, as Penfolds works to refine the wines to meet the quality and style requirements to achieve the “Bin” designation. The French (FWT) and Chinese (CWT) wines fit into this category.

The American wines are more evolved and carry the “Bin” designation and, in the case of Quantum, a premium title.

And the reviewed wines are uniformly superb.

Reviewed

Penfolds – Bin 600 – Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz – 2022. How to describe this wine? Density and power, more so than the Australian wines. But that is not better per se, it is just different. There is a ripeness and plushness that is quite seductive. The wine is spine-tinglingly good and already amazing drinking already, yet there is the structure and texture, that will reward cellaring. A remarkable contrast to the 389. The fruit sweetness is clearly American, but the wine is classically Penfolds. Drink while waiting for the Bin 389 to mature.
Heritage vine cuttings from Kalimna and Magill were used to plant the Creston Ranch vineyard in California. 14.5% alc – 95pts.

Penfolds – Bin 149 – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2022. Much more structured and focused. With power and intensity to burn. The tannins are remarkably polished and fine. And the depth takes a step up. A highlight. This wine is a fascinating blend of fruit from California and South Australia and spent 16 month in a combination of new and used French and American oak. 14.5% alc – 96-97 pts.

Penfolds – Quantum Bin 98 – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2021. Immensely powerful and structured, yet fine and elegant. This could be mistaken for Bordeaux, such is the restrained, textured palate. With air, the powerful blueberry fruit is such a highlight. The length and persistence of flavours and texture are extraordinary, and the way the fruit evolves over time is quite stunning. Five minutes after tasting this wine, I was still getting pops of flavours and texture that kept me entranced. So intense and powerful. and it just gets better and better with air. A worthy companion to Grange. Different style, same quality. Includes the addition of 7% shiraz from South Australia and the wine was matured in a mix of new and used American and French oak. 14.5% alc – 98pts.

Penfolds – FWT 585 – Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Verdot/Merlot – 2022. Oh my. This is quite beautiful. It somehow manages to capture both the essence of Penfolds and also of Bordeaux at the same time. The fruit is ripe, as expected, but the minerality and structure is what sets this apart. It is not so much the density of fruit, rather it is the density of texture that has the greatest impact. Blueberry, but also graphite-like notes. Whilst near seamless, the tannins ultimately close things down, suggesting that 10 years in the bottle is required for this to start to hit its straps. 35% New French/ 18% new American oak barriques. 14.5% alc – 95pts.