Penfolds, Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2021 - 75cl

Marananga sits in a warm north-western pocket of the Barossa, and its Shiraz has a depth and richness all its own. Penfolds singled it out with Bin 150 in 2008, and the 2021 — one of the great recent South Australian vintages — shows exactly why they bothered.

This is Barossa Shiraz in full voice. The nose is all blackberry and dark plum, with licorice, mocha and a dusting of warm spice; a bittersweet chocolate note comes from maturation in a mix of French and American oak. The palate is generous and full-bodied without tipping into heaviness — ripe dark fruit, firm but ripe tannins that give it real grip, and enough freshness underneath to keep it from feeling jammy. The finish is long, warming and lightly savoury.

There is plenty of pleasure to be had now if you decant it, but this has the structure to age comfortably for fifteen years or more. A serious Barossa Shiraz at a fair price for the pedigree.

How to Serve

Serve at 16–18°C. Decant for a good hour while it is young — it opens and softens beautifully with air.

Where to Drink It

A bottle for hearty cooking: Boisdale for its game and grills, or Brat in Shoreditch for anything off the fire.

Food Pairings

Slow-braised beef short rib, barbecued lamb, or a mature cheddar. The richer the plate, the happier it is.