"A benchmark meld of prime SA regional sources, from Barossa, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra. Boysenberry tart. Violet. Bouquet Garni and tomato leaf, meander across a pliant expanse of brooding tannin, as much American oak-derived as grape. This is an impressive build of proprietary style and choice Cabernet sourcing."

97 points (July 2020)

Inimitable Bin 707. The warm summer of 2018 has ripened a deeply coloured and confidently structured Bin 707 of heightened fruit depth, met confidently head-on by new American oak. Blackcurrant, cassis and liquorice are deeply impacted by high cocoa dark chocolate and freshly ground coffee. As consummately engineered as ever, this is another Bin 707 to forget in the cellar, forged with tannins to confidently meet the destiny of its considerable proportions, promising a very long future indeed. Peter Gago describes 2018 as affording an opportunity to proactively assemble a Bin 707 blend more about refinement and balance than brute power and concentration, uniting regions that share a classic ‘Coonawarra line.’ This must, of course, be read in the context of the monumental proportions of Bin 707! For all of its refinement and balance, there’s certainly no shortage of power or concentration packed into this enduring cabernet.

97 points (July 2020)

Very concentrated, deep, dark red/purple with almost a blackish tint, coating the glass. The bouquet is coconutty and shy, somewhat reserved, the oak holding centre-stage at first sniff. The wine is very concentrated and powerful, with masses of chewy tannins that coat the palate. Vanilla, dark chocolate and mocha, hints of fruitcake and dried-fruits, while the tannins are very drying and just a touch oaky-tasting. There is cassis-like cabernet flavour on the palate and especially the aftertaste, which is not yet as evident on the nose. But it's still just a babe. The aftertaste lingers very long, and the flavour and tannin coats the interior of the mouth and lasts there a long time. Great potential; needs several years before broaching.

97 points, The Real Review (July 2020)

This has a very expressive and intense feel with assertive, 100% new American oak, sitting in a bold, spicy layer with vanilla, bourbon and espresso notes, across the blueberries, blackcurrants and boysenberries. The palate has a very taut yet luscious delivery of rich plum and cranberry flavors. There’s such long and taut tannin and oak is driving this into tightly compressed shape with roasted-coffee tones to the very intense and long, ripe plums and black cherries. Powerful, commanding cabernet. This is a great Bin 707. Attractive now, but best to wait until 2025.

98 points, JamesSuckling.com (July 2020)

In case readers weren't aware, Bin 707 is always aged in new American oak, like Grange. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707 features plenty of vanilla on the nose, backed by concentrated cassis fruit. It's full-bodied, velvety and richly tannic, clearly meant to have two decades (or more) of longevity. Marked by ripe fruit, a notable lack of herbaceousness, and lavish oak, it's out of step with current trends in Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, but it's no less delicious and all the more unique for that.

97+ points, Wine Advocate (July 2020)

The most individual of any Australian cabernet. It's a blend of regions and gets 100% new American oak. It's a wine that is not everyone's cup of tea, especially when it is young. But the key though is when it ages. That's when the true majesty of this combination emerges. Creamy black fruit combination on the nose with a trace of characteristic crushed ants. The palate is raw awesome power and yet despite all the high octane components it retains a graceful line.

96 points, The West Australian (July 2020)

It’s all about the bass. High violet notes are followed by rich, redolent black plums and tight blackberry, coming at you with a low, persistent rumble. If at first this wine appears understated and reserved, taste again and it starts to reveal much more – black olive, rhubarb, iodine, coal and slate. Still a tight-fisted velvet glove in its youth, although there’s great warmth and comfort in all these intricately meshed elements. Enjoy trying to figure out the whole delightful puzzle throughout its incredible palate length.

97 points, David Sly, Decanter (July 2020)

There were no issues for Cabernet in 2018 with evenness across both the warm and cool regions. Harvest was a doddle and it tastes like blending was a piece of cake, too. I say this because there are no wrinkles in this wine whatsoever. It is velvety, thrillingly balanced, typically broad-brush and loaded with awesome power. There is welcome, pliable juiciness at its core and this means that it will drink before the mighty 2016. But with everything in its perfect place, like the entire cast, lined up to take a bow on the stage after performing a heart-wrenching opera, what is the overriding theme of this wine? I used a word from my tasting note of Bin 707 to highlight the character of this entire collection and it is ‘polish’. This is a tremendously polished wine and it sums up everything remarkable about Bin 707.

19.5+ points (July 2020)

This is more like it. Pure, powerful and refined but drilled with long chains of tannin and super long through the finish. It’s lashed with resiny vanillin oak but the wine’s inherent power, shape and persistence win the day. Boysenberry as much as blackcurrant, mint and bay leaf, a whisper of coconut, an overriding freshness. It’s stern, tannic and powerful and yet it all flushes refreshingly through. Terrific release.

97 points, The Wine Front (July 2020)

Extremely luscious – particularly in contrast to Bin 169. Like melted blackcurrant pastilles with an overlay of an Australian summer. Great balance and drive but very sumptuous. The fruit is already dominating the tannins – which are notable. Very Penfolds and a success!

18 points, JancisRobinson.com (June 2020)