Penfolds Bin 389 2022 Review: Is It Still Worth $80?

Bin 389 is called “Baby Grange” by people who love it and “overpriced Cab Shiraz” by people who’ve never properly tasted it. After spending time with the 2022 vintage, here’s where we land.

The Wine

Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz is a multi-regional blend that’s been made since 1960. The philosophy hasn’t changed: take the best fruit from South Australia’s key regions, age it in the same barrels that held Grange the year before, and produce something that sits between everyday drinking and serious cellaring.

The 2022 vintage is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Shiraz. Regions: Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, and Langhorne Creek.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Deep crimson with a purple edge. No browning at the rim — this is a young wine.

Nose: Black currant, blackberry, cigar box, and a distinct savoury quality that lifts it above simple fruit bombs. There’s cedar from the oak and a faint dried herb note that’s classic Coonawarra Cabernet.

Palate: Medium to full body. The fruit is ripe but controlled — it never tips into jam. The tannins are firm but fine-grained, and the oak is well integrated. Long, savoury finish.

Right now vs cellaring: Drinkable now if you decant for an hour. But this will be noticeably better in three to five years. The tannins need time to soften and the secondary flavours are still emerging.

The Competition at $80

At $80, Bin 389 is competing against some serious bottles. The Henschke Mount Edelstone ($90) beats it for complexity. The Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz ($65) offers similar quality for less. But Bin 389 has something those wines don’t: consistency. Every vintage is reliable. You know what you’re getting.

Is It Worth $80?

Yes — but only if you’re going to cellar it or at least decant it properly. Opening a bottle of 2022 Bin 389 tonight and drinking it straight from the glass is a waste of $80. Buy it now, put it away, and open it in 2028. That’s when this wine makes its argument.

If you want to drink now, buy the 2018 or 2019 at a similar price. They’ve had the time they needed.