External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
1969
1968
1967
1966
1965
1964
1963
1962
1961
1960
1959
1958
1957
1956
1955
1954
1953
1952
1951
N.V.
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.7 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 109 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Topper on 3/17/2024 & rated 95 points: Bought by a friend in Australia in the 90scand testing ever since in his cellar in the US. Double decanted 4 hr before serving and that was just right. Big with blue fruits, tons of grip, and emerging complexity, this was a big hit at the table. Good for at least ten more years. (334 views) | | | Tasted by 89grange on 2/10/2024 flawed bottle: Disappointed (454 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 1/6/2024: Wine Bros: A Study of Syrah (Cowford Chophouse): A Grange with one of the highest levels of Cabernet in it (always some but usually low single digits, this is close to 15%). It’s a wine that really needs a lot of time and air. We opened and put it through the Lennar and double-decanted and tried to give it as much as possible before rebottling and then still poured it before the first course was served so that it had some more time. All well worth it. The wine was good and it was good from the first sip. Very classic style of Grange. Lots of eucalyptus and black fruits and maybe a bit of tea and there’s sweetness and spice and so much going on. Officially not really ready and I can’t wait to see what it is in 20 more years given how the 70’s are going but still a treat to get to try. (1073 views) | | | Tasted by Papies on 1/6/2024 & rated 96 points: The Return to the Ledbury (The Ledbury, London): Dare we say we finally found a Grange that has evolved beyond the fruit phase?
Indeed this was it and felt like a softer, lighter vintage result which ( similar to 90s Napa) Well secondary, soft smoky, leathery almost and with soft spice . Well evolved beauty and a joy and nice to see it with low alcohol level too ( 13.5%) .96 easy (1113 views) | | | Tasted by Isaac D on 7/14/2023: Garnet in colour. Leather, mushrooms, touch of blackberries. Tannis still omnipresent. Medium finish. 92 (1436 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 5/19/2023 & rated 95 points: Richter Pre-Gaming Night (w/ some new world icons): Two Granges side by side. The 1983 (97pts) again showed highly complex, almost perfect precision and superb purity. If we could have followed the wine longer, it could have been even better (had a 99pts bottle last year). The 1993 (95pts) was not far behind with the same complexity and purity but 10 years younger, still with a bit more muscular structure and feel and some chemical/anis notes which you have to like.
TN: Slightly chemical nose, then herbs, anis. With time better and purerx On the palate much better, high toned red fruit, lots of ripe dark fruit, minerality, herbs, minty notes, again anis and spices. Very complex and layered. Highly precise. No faulty notes. Round but still very powerful but so round and sexy.
Decanting: I would decant for 5-6 hours. These Granges need a lot of air. (2209 views) | | | Tasted by Grangelady on 5/6/2023 & rated 94 points: Had all the Grange characteristics that I like so much - drank well right out of the bottle - no need for decanting. Shared it at dinner with friends and was up against some other fabulous wines including 2007 chateau Montelena Estate; 2009 Matriarch. To me the Grange was the best of the wines, but I admit to being a bit biased. The bottom line is that it drinks well and will be good for years to come. I am glad I have more in my locker. (1302 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 5/5/2023 & rated 94 points: Prelude to the annual Magnum Rarities Tasting in Zurich. Decanted for 2h which worked well (double-decant absolutely required). Initially a intricate and detailed profile of dark cherry, bramble berry, sweet pipe tobacco, scorched earth, leather and hints of Asian spice. Build intensity in the decanter. Poured back into bottle and served ~5 hours later at too high room temperature. Unfortunately, by that time this declined in appeal, adding balsamic and tarty notes. Palate, however, was fully intact with soft tannin, balance and a broad, lengthy finish. This started off at ~98 and well ahead of the 1983 I paired it with, but ended up still good a notch or two lower. (1552 views) | | | Tasted by G_H on 5/5/2023 & rated 91 points: For me always one of the weaker vintages of Grange - yet sill a good wine - this had a great body and finish, but the nose showed some VA and plastic. Others liked it better than me. (1299 views) | | | Tasted by acyso on 3/14/2023 & rated 95 points: 1993 survey, or filling a hole with Chave (Chicago, IL): I think I liked this a lot more than most at the table. I do love my big wines. This has loads upon loads of American oak -- the empty glass smells like dill. But I really love the way that American oak integrates with the leathery black fruit here, and while the flavours seem to evoke leather, the texture is actually more satin than leather. Still very youthful with tons of gas left in the tank. Have to admit, these kinds of wines really hit the spot once in a while. (1927 views) | | | Tasted by popasq on 12/31/2022 & rated 100 points: Did not decant, opened this after drinking a few tremendous Napa cabs and this bottle was the favorite of everyone. Absolutely exceptional, does not get better than that. (1162 views) | | | Tasted by TWSA on 12/5/2022 & rated 92 points: Nose: floral, coffee, burnt meat, raspberry,
Notes: quite an amazing wine. I never had much enjoyment with Australian wines but the Grange 1993 was really one of a kind. With a fantastic nose that's comparable with Guigals La la la I would say this wine is quite complete in terms of its tasting profile. With almost everything you need from a good wine the Grange is a classic example of syrah/shiraz and is probably the ceiling of what a good shirza should demonstrate. Still not entirely at the same level of a good la landonne or la mouline but it's certainly up there. Still quite strong and should last for another 20 years. I've tried several vintages of Grange and this is by far one of the best ones, most other ones were either too fruit forward or lacks the depth and complexity. This 1993 was outstanding in all aspects.
Drink: now- 2045
Rating: 92 (1374 views) | | | Tasted by popasq on 12/4/2022 & rated 98 points: Did not decant, this was exceptional (1277 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 10/14/2022: Part of a mini Grange vertical which included ‘85, ‘87 and ‘89. We think there might have been a bit of a custom blend with this and the ‘89 at some point so trying to stick to initial impressions. This started all brambly blackberry. Lots more fruit than the others. Still much too young and not quite completely integrated yet. But will be be lovely and very tasty today. (1872 views) | | | Tasted by peternelson on 9/10/2021 & rated 93 points: Old, rich, brown, tootsie roll notes but not oxidized, fairly deep, especially the at the dregs of the bottom of the bottle! Really cool stuff although the '98, even though just 5 years its senior, was showing better and much fresher. M.Pole from BB (3683 views) | | | Tasted by jviz on 5/29/2021 & rated 94 points: My first time to taste Grange. 86 syrah, 14 cab, this came from a pristine bottle, purchased at retail about 5 years prior. Cork, capsule and fill were all perfect. Decanted about 45 minutes then into Riedel Somm cabernet glasses.
The dominant note for me was mint. A composite of spearmint notes and fine oak, leading to a palate of almost over ripe, warm red and black fruit tones (strawberry, red plum) and raisin. Silty tannins leave a long finish. I came back to the last glass about 6 hours later and while the oak had faded, the fruit left on the midpalate is just massive. For my palate, this has many years to go..
In my tasting matrix, this was somewhere between the Two Hands Bella’s Garden series and Joseph Phelps Insignia. I felt the cab element was really forward, and in fact, there were really no typical Rhone syrah notes (no olive, black pepper, meat/bacon, lavender). So while fairly tasty, and grateful for the experience, I’ll trade for Chave Hermitage any day. (3462 views) | | | Tasted by PJM0208 on 5/26/2021 & rated 96 points: Based on the reviews, I opened the ‘93 expecting to be disappointed.
The ‘93 is certainly not considered to be a great vintage for Grange and even the recently published 8th edition of Rewards of Patience is lukewarm.
The wine was decanted and consumed from 2 hours post decant over a 6 hour period.
I enjoyed watching the story of Max Schubert and a documentary about Peter Gago whilst I sipped.
The ‘93 is a great wine and whilst it has the highest Cabernet Sauvignon percentage in grange history at 14%, you surely can’t detect this on the nose or on the palate.
It’s dark and layered with lots of red and black fruits, some oak, some marzipan and oh so very long.
Finished on a high with each sip exceeding the previous sip and definitely at its best in the final glass rather than the first glass.
A great experience!!! (3118 views) | | | Tasted by yodamark on 5/5/2021 & rated 88 points: Hmmmm. a pleasant Grange but not in the class of better vintages. Also annihilated by a young and decadent 1993 Basket Press. Others thought it was better I thought it was pleasant but simple, a bit green and boring, and probably past its best. Hutton Vale shirazes also consumed from 1998 and 1999 , so not much younger, on the table also annihilated it. I have a controversial and probably unfounded theory on Grange made between around 1987 and 2001. Despite the hype of 1990 and 1998 and other good vintages like 1994 and 1996 i have been consistently underwhelmed with this period of Grange. 1991 i have had several times and it doesn't do anything for me. 1994 is disappointing, 1996 is backward, tannic and unknown if it will reach the quality of 1976 or 1978 or even 1983 for example. 1990 is good but a little overrated and ready and 1998 is a lovely wine but ready to go and i think there are far better value wines. This period of grange just doesn't seem to have the passion, stuffing, the soul and structural richness and balls that many from 60's to early 80's had. And since Peter Gago took over I think they are returning to this level. OK so lets get it on the table, at the risk Cellartracker ban me, these are Duval era Granges and i know he is a fabulous winemaker but I'm not sure his granges will stand the test of time. For example would a 1990 grange be as amazing and ethereal and rich and decadent at 60 years of age as 1960 grange is now?? Would a 1998 grange be as stunning and laden with fruit and chocolate at 45 years of age like a 1976 is now? I just do not think so. So there you have it, each to your own. I love grange but it is overpriced and overrated sometimes and particularly in this period. stick with the 60's, 71, 76, 78, 82 ,83. 86 is still a question mark. i find it a bit green but better than its younger siblings.
do i prepare my legal defense counsel now? (3513 views) | | | Tasted by JonnyG on 3/5/2021 & rated 95 points: The solid cork was easily extracted, with only minimal seepage. One of the most enjoyable of the dozen or so Granges I have been fortunate enough to taste, topped only by a stellar 1998. Whereas as many of the others were lush and polished, with plenty of eucalyptus and mocha. This wine was savory and textured, with floral notes complementing the rich fruit. I perceived a lot of currant flavor in addition to the dark fruit notes. At peak, but should hold for at least fifteen more years. (3459 views) | | | Tasted by apg23 on 12/14/2020 & rated 92 points: First time I have tasted PG. I liked it - smooth and just the right amount bite. This has matured nicely. (2347 views) | | | Tasted by Argrath on 10/16/2020 & rated 93 points: (Blind tasting BYO)
Full, deep and very generously fruity nose, verging on the jammy. Cassis and ripe plum. Warm. Complex notes of nuts, spice and milk chocolate. But also minerally notes. Perhaps a bit volatile.
Fullish, generous and rich palate. Warm with evident alcoholic heat. Plum and raisin. Mineral and sweet liquorice. Dense and with some development but lacks layers and complexity.
Actually very hard to guess and place this wine. Not as parodic full-blown as prior Granges we have tasted. A fragrant style for the wine. But also perhaps a bit simple for the pedigree... (1559 views) | | | Tasted by KoalaHK on 8/22/2019: Tasted at Penfolds Magill Estate, Adelaide. 40 Vintages of Grange: Made with 14% Cabernet. More fragrant than your typical Grange in a floral kind of way. There is still power on the nose that perhaps comes from the slightly higher dose of Cabernet in this vintage. There is also a creaminess on the palate but its not as good as they '92 and certainly can't hold a candle to the '91. (3912 views) | | | Tasted by Zingrrl on 6/29/2019 & rated 92 points: First opening was very fruity/jammy. Welch's grape jam. This blew off rather quickly. Smooth, integrated, balanced. Very good. Finish was not as long as I had hoped but still a great wine. (3809 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 2/10/2019: Opened and decanted and drank over the course of maybe 3 hours. I'm amazed at how young this still tastes. There's still the oak and a bit of the vanilla. It softened with time in the glass. Very intense. Lots of eucalyptus, darker fruits, pencil shavings. It's a very tasty wine. Will hold on our other bottles though. (4152 views) | | | Tasted by G_H on 11/28/2018 & rated 94 points: Stunning showing, elegant yet opulent but not rich if that makes any sense. Classic Grange but in a slightly lighter style. Great! (4434 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Penfolds Producer website
Producer Cellar Door - Barossa (Google Maps)
About Us
Australia's winemaking history of less than two hundred years is brief by European measures though, like Europe, punctuated by periods of extreme success and difficult times. From the earliest winemaking days Penfolds has figured prominently and few would argue the importance of Penfolds’ influence on Australia’s winemaking psyche.
Without the influence of Penfolds the modern Australian wine industry would look very different indeed. Sitting comfortably outside of fad and fashion, Penfolds has taken Australian wine to the world on a grand stage and forged a reputation for quality that is without peer.
Penfolds’ reputation for making wines of provenance and cellaring potential might suggest a mantle of tradition and formality is the preferred attire of a company with so much history to defend. But to label Penfolds as simply an established and conventional winemaker, would be to confuse tradition with consideration and to overlook the innovative spirit that has driven Penfolds since its foundation, and continues to find expression in modern times.
If there is anything traditional about Penfolds, it is the practice of constantly reviewing the wines it already does well, and continuously evolving and refining styles as vineyards mature and access to ever older and more varied vineyard sites improves.
Making The Best Possible Wine
At Penfolds, the role of the winemaker is to make the best possible wine within the constraints of each vintage. Penfolds’ house style emerged from a fortified-wine producing culture and evolved as a winemaking philosophy – a way of making wine – which has had a profound effect on the entire Australian wine industry.
The concept of multi-regional and vineyard blending, a feature of the Penfolds house style, is an amplification of the ‘all-round wine’. Without the constraints of a single vineyard, winemakers could choose the best possible fruit with the outstanding characteristics of each vineyard.
While American oak has played a central role in the development of Penfolds red wines, French oak has been increasingly used in the evolution of new wines – particularly RWT and Yattarna. Maturation in oak, which follows fermentation, is also key to the Penfolds house style.
The Penfolds approach to winemaking has percolated through the entire Australian wine industry over the last 50 years. The techniques employed in research and development of Penfolds wines are remarkable and many of the discoveries and innovations have had a lasting impact on winemaking thinking.
Winemakers
In Max Schubert, Don Ditter, John Duval and Peter Gago, Penfolds has nurtured four of Australia's great winemakers. They have passed the Chief Winemaker’s baton of responsibility for crafting some of Australia's most iconic wines, down through the past six decades.
Joining Peter Gago in the Penfolds winemaking team are Senior Red Winemaker Steve Lienert, Senior White Winemaker Kym Schroeter, and Red Winemakers Andrew Baldwin, Adam Clay, Stephanie Dutton and Matt Woo - also the Penfolds Fortified Winemaker. All members of the Penfolds winemaking team ensure that Penfolds’ reputation for outstanding quality is upheld.
Vineyards
Barossa Valley
Penfolds draws fruit from a combined vineyard area of 618 hectares in the Barossa region of South Australia. The Barossa is about 70 kilometres north of Adelaide and in 1911 Penfolds established a winery at Nuriootpa, completed in time for the 1913 vintage. The Barossa region is known for its relatively low rainfall with many vineyards dry grown on single wire trellising.
Magill Estate
The historic and heritage-protected Magill Estate Vineyard was established in 1844 by Dr Christopher Rawson and Mary Penfold—just eight years after the foundation of Adelaide. It was originally known as the Grange Vineyard, named after their new homestead ‘The Grange’, a cottage which still stands intact amongst the vines.
Eden Valley
Joseph Gilbert planted the first vines in the Eden Valley in 1842 and since that time the region has become synonymous with producing elegant riesling and complex shiraz. While its name suggests a concave nature, Eden Valley is actually a wide ridge, situated east of the Barossa Valley with an altitude ranging from 440 – 550 metres.
McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale is located approximately 40km to the south of Adelaide, with the vineyards in the region located between 6 and 15 kilometres from the Gulf of St Vincent. The elevation ranges from 50 to 350 metres above sea level. Penfolds has company owned vineyards throughout the region, using the fruit as blending components for premium red wines such as Grange and Bin 389.
Coonawarra
Penfolds has had a long history with the Coonawarra region, dating back to their first vineyard purchase in 1960. It is one of the most famous red wine regions in Australia with weathered limestone terra rossa soils, relatively cool climate and overall water availability. Coonawarra has played a significant role in many of Penfolds' multi-regional wines as well as the single region wines such as Bin 128.
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion Winery Of The Year 2014: Penfolds
Penfolds is Australia’s foremost winemaker, with an unbroken line dating back to its establishment in 1844 when medical practitioner Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold and wife Mary purchased ‘the delightfully situated and truly valuable of Mackgill … Comprising 500 acres (202 hectares) of the choicest land’. Here they built the house that still stands today, and within a few years had begun the winery and cellar on the site of today’s buildings at Magill Estate.
Mary took charge of winemaking, initially producing grenache prescribed by her husband as a tonic for anaemic patients. By 1870 she, son-in-law Thomas Hyland and cellar manager/winemaker Joseph Gillard had formed Penfolds & Co. With markets in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, their wine production was over one-third of South Australia’s total.
Growth continued unabated, and in 1945 Penfolds acquired the jewel of the Magill Vineyard, at that time the largest vineyard in South Australia. It now has 2100 hectares of vineyards, the largest share of Australia’s total. Two men came together in the 1950s to lay the foundation of Penfolds today: winemaker Max Schubert, and research chemist Ray Beckwith (who died shortly after his 100th birthday in 2012); indeed, their contribution transcended Penfolds to the entire Australian wine industry.
The architecture for the Penfolds wine portfolio of the twenty-first century was established in the 1960s, half a century ago. There has been growth, both in the range of labels and their price points, but it has been cleverly – indeed sensitively – managed; demand-driven growth has been achieved without any quality compromise whatsoever.
There is no possibility that the pre-eminence of Penfolds will ever be challenged by any other Australian wine business. Equally certain is that the Penfolds brand value will continue to gain ground on the world stage of all consumable products. If proof be needed, the overall quality of the wines in this Wine Companion is the best Penfolds has ever presented to the markets of the globe.
Author: James Halliday Jul 20131993 Penfolds GrangeBin 95 GrangePenfolds GrangeLangton's The Definitive Grange Guide (includes 2006 vintage)
http://www.langtons.com.au/images/pdfs/grange_guide.pdf
The Rewards of Patience (7th Edition)
Vintage Label Shiraz Cabernet
2010 Bin 95 Grange 96% 4%
2009 Bin 95 Grange 98% 2%
2008 Bin 95 Grange 98% 2%
2007 Bin 95 Grange 98% 2%
2006 Bin 95 Grange 98% 2%
2005 Bin 95 Grange 96% 4%
2004 Bin 95 Grange 96% 4%
2003 Bin 95 Grange 97% 3%
2002 Bin 95 Grange 98.5% 1.5%
2001 Bin 95 Grange 99% 1%
2000 Bin 95 Grange 100%
1999 Bin 95 Grange 100%
1998 Bin 95 Grange 97% 3%
1997 Bin 95 Grange 96% 4%
1996 Bin 95 Grange 94% 6%
1995 Bin 95 Grange 94% 6%
1994 Bin 95 Grange 89% 11%
1993 Bin 95 Grange 86% 14%
1992 Bin 95 Grange 90% 10%
1991 Bin 95 Grange 95% 5%
1990 Bin 95 Grange 95% 5%
1989 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 91% 9%
1988 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 94% 6%
1987 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 90% 10%
1986 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 87% 13%
1985 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 99% 1%
1984 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 95% 5%
1983 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 94% 6%
1982 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 94% 6%
1981 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 89% 11%
1980 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 96% 4%
1979 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 87% 13%
1978 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 90% 10%
1977 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 91% 9%
1976 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 89% 11%
1975 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 90% 10%
1974 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 93% 7%
1973 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 98% 2%
1972 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 90% 10%
1971 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 87% 13%
1970 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 90% 10%
1969 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 95% 5%
1969 Bin 826 Grange Hermitage
1968 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 94% 6%
1968 Bin 826 Grange Hermitage
1967 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 94% 6%
1967 Bin 74 Grange Hermitage
1966 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 88% 12%
1966 Bin 72 Grange Hermitage
1966 Bin 71 Grange Hermitage
1965 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 95% 5%
1965 Bin 71 Grange Hermitage
1965 Bin 70 Grange Hermitage
1965 Bin 69 Grange Hermitage
1964 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 90% 10%
1964 Bin 68 Grange Hermitage
1964 Bin 67 Grange Hermitage
1964 Bin 66 Grange Hermitage
1964 Bin 395 Grange Hermitage
1963 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 100%
1963 Bin 65 Grange Hermitage
1962 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 87% 13%
1962 Bin 456 Grange Hermitage
1962 Bin 59A Grange Hermitage
1962 Bin 59 Grange Hermitage
1961 Bin 395 Grange Hermitage 88% 12%
1961 Bin 395 Grange Hermitage
1960 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 92% 8%
1960 Bin 45 Grange Hermitage
1959 Bin 46 Grange Hermitage 90% 10%
1959 Bin 49 Grange Hermitage
1959 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage
1958 Bin 46 Grange Hermitage 94% 6%
1957 Bin 50 Grange Hermitage 88% 12%
1956 Bin 14 Grange Hermitage 96% 4%
1955 Bin 95 Grange Hermitage 90% 10%
1955 Bin 148A Grange Hermitage
1955 Bin 54 Grange Hermitage
1955 Bin 53 Grange Hermitage
1955 Bin 14 Grange Hermitage
1955 Bin 13 Grange Hermitage
1954 Bin 12 Grange Hermitage 98% 2%
1954 Bin 11 Grange Hermitage
1953 Bin 2 Grange Hermitage 87% 13%
1953 Bin 145 Grange Hermitage
1953 Bin 86C Grange Hermitage
1953 Bin 10 Grange Hermitage
1953 Bin 9 Grange Cabernet Sauvignon (Block 42) 100%
1952 Bin 4 Grange Hermitage 100%
1952 Bin 4A Grange Hermitage
1951 Bin 1 Grange Hermitage 100%
Shiraz BlendViognierGrangePenfold's Rewards Of Patience
http://www.grange.biz/library/rewards/bin-95-grange.pdf
Australia Wine Australia (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) | Australian Wines (Wikipedia)South Australia South Australian Wine Industry Association | South Australian Wines (Wikipedia) |
|
