November 12, 2023 - We had this and 11 other Grange Hermitage from 1967 to 1985 (plus 2003 as the control wine). The 75 bested the 71 by a couple points. Good crimson color, fresh dark beeey flavor, some menthol and graphite on nose. Medium body, tannins diminished. While i preferred the more symmetrical 71, this wine was the favorite and fully mature. Great wine.
November 5, 2019 - Hard to believe it’s a 44 year old wine. Slight garnet in its dark core. Mature fruit, meatiness and clean earth on nose. Nice complexity and intensity of flavours. Moderate acidity, moderate alcohol, moderate level of smooth tannins. Full bodied, complex, long, and holding up beautifully.
May 17, 2019 - a very attractive bottle, very fine and aged to perfection.
April 30, 2019 - Penfolds Grange dinner with Stephanie Dutton (The Musket Room in NYC): Off which was a bummer. We had a few of these a few years ago. One was ok but died early (I think for sure flawed). Other started a bit musty and then opened up into something really beautiful. This was not completely appalling, but nor was it tasty and as the other Granges in the line-up show Grange is meant to be tasty.
July 21, 2017 - A Charmed Life: night of aged Cristal, Grange, and D'Yquem (Marea): We prob opened this one a bit later than we should have. Cork was popped around 6 pm and Granges were served maybe 30 minutes later. As a result, this had one of the bigger arcs of the wines at the table I thought. Most believed it was the outlier of the group - the wine most likely to be mistaken for an aged Bordeaux. Certainly there was a great deal of leather which I do associate with the Bordeaux, but it also had this sweet, almost candied red fruit character to it. Full-bodied. And open for business. We'd tried one of these a few years ago and it was a bit shaky on it's feet originally, peaked quickly, and fell off a cliff. Not this one which four hours in was still quite lovely. Very much enjoyed.
March 8, 2017 - At first pour out of Coravin dark closed sappy viscous reminding of port and amaroné. Then unfolding into a left bank like Bordeaux blend, notable Cabernet franc notes. Thereafter signature mint and vanilla notes with deep rich fruit jam flavors and an extending lengthy finish of power and finesse, balance and striding elegance. Licorice and star anise preserve with kerosene side bar. A stunning expression of the Australian atristocatic spirit.
April 17, 2016 - I haven't had a Grange that's impressed me for years. This was in fine shape, drank okay, but really left me uninspired.
January 30, 2016 - Zachys Power of Packaging - Jan 2016 (Smith & Wollensky (48th & 3rd Ave)): So this starts a bit musty and dies somewhat quickly, but if you get it right in the middle it's pretty good. Not the best Grange I've ever had, but even a medium level Grange is a pretty awesome wine. Ever evolving, lots of spices, leather, and wow is that nose something. I could smell this forever.
November 27, 2015 - Friday after Thanksgiving (FAT) - Part 2 - Penfolds Grange Vertical (Palm Beach Gardens FL): Small taste, brief note. Old, tired, very likely heat damaged. Not close to the quality of another bottle tasted blind 4 years ago.
July 5, 2015 - Pulled the cork an hour before, and served out of the bottle at room temperature. I found it slightly corked, but no one noticed so I let it go. Dark color, amazing for its age. Ripe, dark fruit on the nose and palate. Dense and concentrated for its age, but very good still and my bet is I would rate it quite high if not for the TCA.