Penfolds, in partnership with DFS and Changi Airport, held an exclusive event last week in Singapore, where it celebrated the launch of the 2008 Penfolds Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.
As part of the Penfolds 2012 Icon & Luxury release, the 2008 Bin 169 marks “a new contemporary wine style”, that according to Penfolds showcases the label’s longstanding commitment to the vineyards of South Australia’s Coonawarra.
Titled “˜Penfolds: The Luxury Experience’, the launch event was held at the five-star The Fullerton Bay Hotel’s Clifford restaurant, overlooking the stunning Marina Bay Waterfront.
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The 2008 Penfolds Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon |
The guest list, numbering about 60, included DFS Platinum Service Club Members; key representatives from Changi Airport Group, such as Executive Vice President Commercial Lim Peck Hoon, Head (Airside Planning & Leasing) Chandra Mahtani and Senior Vice President for Airside Concessions Ivy Wong; as well as DFS Group management including Managing Director Asia South Craig McKenna and DFS Singapore General Manager Parker Gundersen. The Moodie Report’s Melody Ng was also on hand at the launch.
Extending a warm welcome to guests following the opening cocktail, Penfolds ambassador and winemaker Stephanie Dutton spoke with passion about the star of the evening: “A wine style that epitomises Penfolds, the 2008 Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon is reminiscent of the winemaking team’s search for multiplicity and perfection. Strength, character and poise are evident in this offering, showcasing great length, richness and finesse.”
This 2008 vintage is the inaugural re-release of this label – modelled on the earlier “˜one-off’ 1973 Bin 169. The creation of Bin 169 reflects a contemporary Penfolds winemaking approach that emphasises both regionality and maturation of Cabernet Sauvignon in fine-grained French oak, Dutton said.
Regional wines have a lasting history with Penfolds and serve as “a great counterpoint to our multi-regional expressions”. In 2008, the Penfolds winemaking team saw the opportunity to celebrate two very distinct styles of Cabernet. Just as the Barossa is capable of showcasing diversity of style with Shiraz, in 2008 Coonawarra offered Cabernet parcels that were classic Bin 707 – fruit that “flexed its muscles and showed opulence”, the brand explained.
These 2008 Coonawarra Cabernet parcels drew inspiration from a past Penfolds regional Cabernet. In 1973, well before the birth of Bin 407 and during a time when Bin 707 production had ceased (1970-1975), Penfolds’ best parcel of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon was marked and kept separate as Bin 169.
Besides the Bin 169, guests got to taste a host of other Penfolds wines specially paired with a seven-course dinner. These included the 2007 Penfolds Grange Shiraz, 2009 Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnary, 2009 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2009 Penfolds RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz from the 2012 Icon & Luxury collection, as well as the 2007 Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay, 1989 Penfolds Grange Shiraz and Penfolds Grandfather Tawny Port.
“All of these wines are available in travel retail as part of the Icon & Luxury range from Penfolds, with the exception of the 1989 Grange which is meant to be a special treat to showcase to the guests the “˜cellarbility’ of Penfolds Grange which can last for more than 20-50 years,” Treasury Wine Estates Travel Retail Manager Asia Molly Low told The Moodie Report.
Already renowned for its award-winning Bin range, Penfolds now aims to drive further awareness of its high end Icon & Luxury range, Low added. “It is Penfolds’ ambition to become a leading global luxury wine brand in travel retail through brand showcase, luxury offering and special limited product offering to the travellers.”
Made from less than 5% of all grapes sourced, the Icon & Luxury wines are the result of rigorous standards, with a distinctive individual style and a strong track record of cellaring performance, according to Penfolds.
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Approximately 60 guests were invited to the intimate launch at Clifford restaurant |
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DFS Managing Director Asia South Craig McKenna welcomes guests to the five-star The Fullerton Bay Hotel in Singapore |
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Penfolds ambassador Stephanie Dutton explains the making of the 2008 Penfolds Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, describing it as “a new contemporary wine style” |
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Treasury Wine Estates Managing Director EMEA & Global Travel Retail Andrew Carter gives a celebratory toast to the historic launch |
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The 2008 Penfolds Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon makes a grand appearance |
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(L-R) Changi Airport Group’s Senior Vice President for Airside Concessions Ivy Wong, Head (Airside Planning & Leasing) Chandra Mahtani and Executive Vice President Commercial Lim Peck Hoon, with Penfolds Brand Business Director – Asia Pierre Pinault |
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(L-R) Penfolds ambassador and winemaker Stephanie Dutton, DFS Managing Director Asia South Craig McKenna, Treasury Wine Estates Travel Retail Manager Asia Molly Low, and DFS Singapore General Manager Parker Gundersen |
Adding to its luxury credentials, Penfolds last year released the ultra-rare 2008 Bin 620 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz, a unique blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Shiraz. Only one other vintage of Bin 620 has ever been released – the original in 1966. Hand-selected parcels of fruit from low yielding Penfolds Coonawarra Blocks 5, 10 and 20, combined with barrel fermentation in new French and American oak, has allowed the creation of a wine similar in style and stature to the original 1966 Bin 620, the brand explained.
A 6-litre imperial – the first to be released worldwide out of six imperials – of 2008 Bin 620 was offered in March at DFS’ Master of Spirits II, hailed as Asia’s largest collection of rare and exclusive spirits, wine and Champagne. Last year’s inaugural Master of Spirits saw the brand offering a bottle of Penfolds Bin 7 Coonawarra 1967, a rare and collectible blend of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon with Barossa Shiraz sourced from Penfolds’ most treasured old blocks. Only 500 cases of Bin 7 were made and it was estimated less than 20 cases remain in existence.
The 2008 Penfolds Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon will be available at most DFS stores in Singapore Changi Airport from 1 August. Priced at S$538 (US$429), it comes in a special Penfolds Bin 169 gift box with a Penfolds Riedel Glass.
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Penfolds boosts its luxury credentials by participating in DFS’ Master of Spirits in 2011 (top) and in March this year (above) |
