98 points James Suckling: "What sticks with you about this global blend of Napa and Southern Australian wine is the intense and transparent purple and blue fruit. Lots of blackberry and blueberry aromas with some stones and flowers, such as violets. It’s a very layered and intense wine with very refined, creamy and chewy tannins. Full and very impressive. Very Penfolds. Mouth-filling texture. It’s made mostly from Napa grapes and predominantly from Oakville and Diamond Mountain. About one-fifth is from South Australia. Aged in 80% new American oak and 20% new French. Try after 2026. (8/2/21)"
97+ points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "[$700 list] The first release of this new iconoclastic label, the 2018 Quantum Bin 98 is labeled as a 'Wine of the World,' although the AVA is the United States and technically 87% is American wine (Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley), while 13% is Australian ('Grade A1' Shiraz from South Australia). The wine spent 16 months in oak, 100% new, 80% American oak and 20% French. In fact, the wine is made very much like Grange, in that it completes fermentation in new, mainly American oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a good amount of swirling to unlock slowly emerging scents of chocolate-covered cherries, plum preserves, blueberry compote and cassis with fragrant suggestions of vanilla pod, violets, coconut, crushed rocks, pencil lead and clove oil. Medium to full-bodied, the generously fruited palate explodes in the mouth with ripe, juicy black and blue fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and a lovely burst of freshness, finishing long and spicy. It is mostly all fruit and American oak at this youthful stage, but I imagine that like Grange, its real appeal comes with bottle age. I would give it at least five years to allow the oak to marry and tertiary nuances to emerge, then drink it over the next 20 years or more. To manage expectations—this doesn't taste like Napa or South Australia. It doesn't even taste like the 2018 vintage here in Napa. It really is its own thing, which I suppose is the point. 1,749 cases were made. (Feb 2021)"
97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The flagship wine in this range, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Quantum Bin 98 is 87% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% South Australia Shiraz. Blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, espresso, licorice, cloves and gravel infuse the 2018 with tons of character and complexity. Dense and opulent to the core, the Bin 98 possesses tremendous intensity. I would give if a few years in bottle to fully come together. Drink: 2026-2038. (Jan 2021)"
97 points David Sly (Decanter): "A Wine of the World is a big statement, and this blend of 87% Napa Valley Cabernet with South Australian Shiraz creates a purposeful bridge between two national styles. The Cabernet is typically Napa (from the Oakville and Diamond Mountain District AVAs): stern and solid, flexing powerful muscle as earth and iodine notes speak much louder than fruit sweetness. The addition of Shiraz (an elite component, considered for Grange inclusion) isn’t obvious, yet its influence is profound, with a hint of ripe plum adding a vivid burst of colour to the dark flavour spectrum. The two varieties strike a happy equilibrium on the mid-palate, wrapping generous layers of rich fruit and supple texture into a seamless weave. Drinking Window: 2025-2050. (Feb 2021)"
96 points James Halliday (Wine Companion): "87% cabernet (from Oakville and Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley), with 13% shiraz from South Australia (predominantly Barossa, with some Clare and McLaren Vale). Matured 16 months in 80/20% American/French new oak barrels. A barrel selection of the top vineyards. 'Much smaller' production volume than Grange. Global blends are no longer the realm of cheap quaffers, with this Grange-priced flagship marrying a little South Australian shiraz with a backbone of Napa cabernet (the ying and yang of the Grange recipe that tweaks shiraz with a touch of cabernet, if you like). A core of Californian fruit sweetness encased in a rigid Penfolds frame. Blackberry, blackcurrant and satsuma plum fruit of ripe, succulent, plush generosity are scaffolded in a super-fine wall of magnificent tannins, thanks both to fruit and new oak. Dark chocolate and coffee bean proclaim polished oak support that sits obediently just under the surface of a generous sweep of fruit. Incredible line and length define great endurance. Special. Closure: Cork. 14.5% alcohol. Drink by 2048. (2/16/21)"
95 points Wine Enthusiast: "[$700 list] The inaugural release of this red combines 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with 13% Shiraz, using grapes from both Napa Valley and South Australia. Dark and brooding, it delivers a smooth, textured palate of bright red fruit and supple, integrated tannins, with meaty undertones along a continuum of black pepper, graphite and leather. Alcohol 14.7%. (Apr 2021)"
97+ points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "[$700 list] The first release of this new iconoclastic label, the 2018 Quantum Bin 98 is labeled as a 'Wine of the World,' although the AVA is the United States and technically 87% is American wine (Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley), while 13% is Australian ('Grade A1' Shiraz from South Australia). The wine spent 16 months in oak, 100% new, 80% American oak and 20% French. In fact, the wine is made very much like Grange, in that it completes fermentation in new, mainly American oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a good amount of swirling to unlock slowly emerging scents of chocolate-covered cherries, plum preserves, blueberry compote and cassis with fragrant suggestions of vanilla pod, violets, coconut, crushed rocks, pencil lead and clove oil. Medium to full-bodied, the generously fruited palate explodes in the mouth with ripe, juicy black and blue fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and a lovely burst of freshness, finishing long and spicy. It is mostly all fruit and American oak at this youthful stage, but I imagine that like Grange, its real appeal comes with bottle age. I would give it at least five years to allow the oak to marry and tertiary nuances to emerge, then drink it over the next 20 years or more. To manage expectations—this doesn't taste like Napa or South Australia. It doesn't even taste like the 2018 vintage here in Napa. It really is its own thing, which I suppose is the point. 1,749 cases were made. (Feb 2021)"
97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The flagship wine in this range, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Quantum Bin 98 is 87% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% South Australia Shiraz. Blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, espresso, licorice, cloves and gravel infuse the 2018 with tons of character and complexity. Dense and opulent to the core, the Bin 98 possesses tremendous intensity. I would give if a few years in bottle to fully come together. Drink: 2026-2038. (Jan 2021)"
97 points David Sly (Decanter): "A Wine of the World is a big statement, and this blend of 87% Napa Valley Cabernet with South Australian Shiraz creates a purposeful bridge between two national styles. The Cabernet is typically Napa (from the Oakville and Diamond Mountain District AVAs): stern and solid, flexing powerful muscle as earth and iodine notes speak much louder than fruit sweetness. The addition of Shiraz (an elite component, considered for Grange inclusion) isn’t obvious, yet its influence is profound, with a hint of ripe plum adding a vivid burst of colour to the dark flavour spectrum. The two varieties strike a happy equilibrium on the mid-palate, wrapping generous layers of rich fruit and supple texture into a seamless weave. Drinking Window: 2025-2050. (Feb 2021)"
96 points James Halliday (Wine Companion): "87% cabernet (from Oakville and Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley), with 13% shiraz from South Australia (predominantly Barossa, with some Clare and McLaren Vale). Matured 16 months in 80/20% American/French new oak barrels. A barrel selection of the top vineyards. 'Much smaller' production volume than Grange. Global blends are no longer the realm of cheap quaffers, with this Grange-priced flagship marrying a little South Australian shiraz with a backbone of Napa cabernet (the ying and yang of the Grange recipe that tweaks shiraz with a touch of cabernet, if you like). A core of Californian fruit sweetness encased in a rigid Penfolds frame. Blackberry, blackcurrant and satsuma plum fruit of ripe, succulent, plush generosity are scaffolded in a super-fine wall of magnificent tannins, thanks both to fruit and new oak. Dark chocolate and coffee bean proclaim polished oak support that sits obediently just under the surface of a generous sweep of fruit. Incredible line and length define great endurance. Special. Closure: Cork. 14.5% alcohol. Drink by 2048. (2/16/21)"
95 points Wine Enthusiast: "[$700 list] The inaugural release of this red combines 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with 13% Shiraz, using grapes from both Napa Valley and South Australia. Dark and brooding, it delivers a smooth, textured palate of bright red fruit and supple, integrated tannins, with meaty undertones along a continuum of black pepper, graphite and leather. Alcohol 14.7%. (Apr 2021)"
| Product SKU | 342811 |
| Producer | Penfolds |
| Country | United States |
| Varietal | Other Red Blends |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| Blend | 87% Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley), 13% Shiraz (South Australia) |
| ABV | 14.5% |
| Ships To |
