2021 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon is from Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. As I smelled this, I thought, "Gee, this smells good!" Usually, I find the presence of American oak to be distracting and ill-matched to the leafy, detailed Cabernet fruit. Here, there has been a significant proportion of French oak (25% new) and a lesser proportion of American oak (12% new oak). You get dark chocolate, berry compote, resin, stewed rhubarb, cassis, crème de menthe, soft-eating licorice and black olive tapenade. All regions have a warm climate, with the exception of Adelaide Hills, of course. In this cooler year, the fruit is mouth-filling without being heavy. Saturating. Lovely. Creamy. Big! Excellent.