Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2005

Big, smooth cherry and plum flavours pour straight out of this classic ‘baby Grange’ with surprising ease. There’s a great bit of wood, which balances the fruit nicely and some earthy textures add to the depth.

I decanted it for about an hour before the first glass and, remarkably that seemed to be all it needed. I was a little surprised, as the 2002 I’d had a few months ago definitely needed more cellaring, but don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. While it’s not the most affordable wine out there, it’s a great wine for a special occasion – of course just opening one of these puppies would be cause enough for a good time. Great to have with any red meat. If you can afford it, I strongly recommend picking up a couple of these for Christmas.

$50-60