Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz Mataro 75cl

Dark fruit, spice, and a little savoury mischief make this a cracking next step if you already like Australian Shiraz but want something with more layers. Penfolds Bin 2 brings Shiraz together with Mataro, also known as Mourvèdre, a grape that adds earthy depth, firmer grip, and that “one more sip” kind of intrigue.

This is a dry Australian red wine from South Australia, made in the Penfolds style: generous fruit, proper structure, and enough polish to feel special without getting stuffy. Shiraz does the heavy lifting with blackberry, plum, and pepper, while Mataro brings darker spice, savoury edges, and a slightly rustic backbone. If straight Shiraz is your usual comfort zone, this is the bottle one shelf over.

• Appearance: Deep ruby to purple in the glass, with a dense, dark-fruited look that tells you this is not a shy red.
• Nose: Blackberry, plum, and black cherry come first, followed by cracked pepper, liquorice, dried herbs, and a subtle earthy note from the Mataro.
• Palate: Dry and flavour-packed, with ripe black fruit, savoury spice, and a firm tannin grip that gives the wine shape without making it feel severe.
• Body: Medium to full-bodied, with enough weight for hearty food but enough balance to keep the next glass tempting.
• Finish: Lingering dark berries, pepper, and a savoury, slightly leathery note that hangs around in the best way.
• Food pairings: Roast lamb with rosemary, pepper-crusted steak, beef burgers, mushroom ragù, or grilled aubergine with smoky spices.

Pour this when dinner has a bit of richness to it. Roast lamb is the obvious win, but it also loves burgers, grilled sausages, slow-cooked beef, or a tray of roasted mushrooms with garlic and thyme. It’s the kind of red that makes a casual meal feel like someone had a plan.

The Shiraz and Mataro blend is the fun bit here. Mataro is the same grape many French producers call Mourvèdre, and it’s often used in Rhône-style blends to add structure, spice, and savoury depth. Translation: it stops the wine from being all fruit and no plot. You still get the generous Australian red wine character, but there’s more chew, more spice, and more reason to pay attention.

It’s also a great bottle for curious Malbec drinkers. If you like plush dark fruit but want something a little pepperier and more savoury, this makes a very easy jump. No tasting exam required. Just open it with food, give it a little air, and let the spice and black fruit stretch out in the glass.

Penfolds has a serious history, but this wine doesn’t need a serious face. Bin 2 was first released in 1960 as part of Penfolds’ early experiments with Shiraz and Mataro, inspired by the kind of southern Rhône blends that know exactly what to do with dark fruit and spice.

Fun Fact: Bin 2 has picked up the nickname “Baby Grange” over the years, partly because it gives a taste of that bold Penfolds red-wine personality in a more relaxed, weeknight-friendly way.