1997 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml

Critic tasting note: "(2004) The younger brother of Penfolds legendary Bin 707, in fact this wine benefited from the generally poor Cabernet vintage of 2000, when no 707 was made, and the grapes were instead used in this wine. It spent 16 months in French and American oak, about quarter of it new barrels. It has a lovely nose: a laid-back, complex cedar wood and blackcurrant, with a streak of bloody, gamy quality and hints of camphor and exotic spices. The palate is very fine, with a solid, chunky core of blackcurrant and damson plum fruit, a hint of vegetal, herbal flavour, and that support of cedary, smoky oak. The tannins are very ripe and fine, but quite grippy and the wine has real length, with lovely balancing acidity. Very powerful, yet elegant, this is a fine effort." - 89/100, Tom Cannavan

Vintage Notes

Coonawarra experienced a very cool spring with reasonable rainfall leading to abundant shoot growth. Rain fell in late December, followed by very dry, hot conditions from the New Year until March. The consistency of quality that will be a hallmark of the year. The quality of Bordertown Cabernet Sauvignon was a highlight of the vintage and it was rated among the strongest in the company

Ageing: 12 months in new French (16%) and new American (12%), and used French and American oak.

Producer Tasting Notes

COLOUR Deep plum red. NOSE Distinctively Cabernet - varietal leafy/cassis fruits to the fore. Cool climate notes of regional Coonawarra and Bordertown fruit. A background of cedary oak attests to the judicious use of new French (and American) oak. PALATE Balanced palate with a lingering sweetness/ ripeness of blackcurrant Cabernet fruits, laced with black olive and a suggestion of mint. Quite a reasonable grip on the finish without tannin aggression (tannins are ripe and balanced).