JH95 A 51/49% blend from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and Coonawarra that spent 12 months in American hogsheads (88% new and 1yo, 12% 2yo). The 'don't mess with me' message is immediate, the bouquet a shower of dark, savoury, earthy aromas, the palate trenchantly full bodied - yet balanced and utterly persuasive. It needs 5 years to settle down and be friendly, but will handsomely repay patience. By James Halliday, Sep 2015.
BC96 I have an emotional attachment to Bin 389 having tasted and enjoyed every vintage for more than 30 years and been witness to a sophisticated revolution toward greater finesse. Deep-tinted wine but not heavy or overdone, with quite elegant flavours that include a cedar, cassis Cabernet character and sweetly luscious Shiraz. A lovely wine that can be appreciated now but really needs to be cellared for quite a few years to fully appreciate its star quality. By Bob Campbell.
HH95 Deep red colour with a tinge of purple. The bouquet is savoury and lightly smoky, with some sooty, charcoal nuances and the faintest glimpse of cabernet blackberries. The palate is dense and almost chewy, thickly coated with tannin and filled with a good balance of savoury and fruit notes. The tannins really finish right out and the finale is long. A seriously good 389 for long cellaring. By Huon Hooke.