2021 Penfolds Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon

96 POINTS: The 2021 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc coming mainly from Napa Valley with a small component of South Australian fruit. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a lot of shaking to release scents of warm cassis, Morello cherries, and boysenberry preserves, plus nuances of pencil lead, crushed rocks, and bay leaves with a hint of cumin seed. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is bright and fresh with firm, grainy tannins framing the taut, muscular fruit, finishing with a red berry lift. It was aged for 16 months in French oak barriques (72% new) and American oak barriques (16% new).