Penfolds just celebrated its 175 years of winemaking heritage in October 2019 and to acknowledge this proud milestone, Penfolds released a new, rare wine from the 2016 vintage – Special Bin 111A Clare Valley Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016.
Made only in extraordinary circumstances, Special Bin wines represent the pinnacle of winemaking endeavour, using only the most exceptional fruit parcels from the very best regional sources. It has been
almost a decade since Penfolds last released a Special Bin wine, a testament to the quality, criterion and craftsmanship required to craft a wine of this stature.
Special Bin 111A is a superb example of contemporary Penfolds winemaking philosophy; an impressively concentrated wine with balance and character, feasibly destined to become an Australian classic. Blended from not one but two esteemed South Australian Shiraz vineyards, the wine is an altogether new style and at once ‘special’: aromatically, structurally, texturally, cerebrally.
Following in the footsteps of the fabled 1962 Bin 60A, perhaps Penfolds most renowned Special Bin, the new release has already caught the attention of wine critics globally, lauded a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, which means that this particular bottling has top scores for colour and appearance, aroma and bouquet, flavour and finish, and overall quality. The Wine Advocate by Robert Parker is heralded as a significant influence on seasoned wine consumer’s buying habits and trends worldwide.
“Bin 111A is an authentic Penfolds Special Bin, rare and true to the Penfolds ‘House Style’. Special Bins are pathfinding vintages and are only released if they offer something extra, different and unique. These wines make a very important statement about Penfolds and they also represent a heritage of curiosity, experimentation and Australian wine making innovation first started by Penfolds 175 years ago,” said Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker.
Named after the wine’s oak maturation stack number, Special Bin 111A is the first Special Bin blend of Clare Valley and Barossa Valley. Grapes were carefully selected from the Botanic Vineyard in Clare Valley and the Gersch Vineyard in Barossa, South Australia. Botanic Vineyard fruit has been included in five of the last six Grange blends. The Botanic Vineyard lies between Auburn and Leasingham at the southern end of Clare Valley. Grapes were handpicked from Blocks 4B and 8.
In 2020, the Gersch Vineyard in the Moppa district of the North-Western Barossa Valley will commemorate an uninterrupted centenary of supplying grapes to Penfolds. Gersch Vineyard fruit has been included in four of the last ten Grange blends. Fruit from Blocks 2 and 7 were selected for this wine. Independent grape growers have been supplying Penfolds for over one and a half centuries. While Penfolds owns substantial vineyard properties across South Australia its relationship with growers, sometimes extending to several generations, is of key importance.
It has been a very busy, yet significant year for Penfolds. There has been a launch of a Penfolds Champagne, tastings for the next edition of our Rewards of Patience text with eminent global wine critics, we have honored Penfolds legends with a Tribute Range. A refurbishment of Cellar 18, one of the original resting places for Grange and Special Bins at Magill Estate Penfolds spiritual home, and now a new Special Bin release.
Penfolds Special Bin 111A Clare Valley Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016 will be available in Malaysia starting in the second half of 2020.
Special Bin 111A was officially revealed recently at the 175th Gala event held at Penfolds Magill Estate Winery, in front of 100 VIP guests from around the world.