Poured into a decanter about 45min prior to dinner. In the glass, the 2002 Grange pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous, with powerful dark brambles, baked blueberries, black pepper, coffee, purple flowers, leather, umami, tilled earth, Flintstones vitamins and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is extraordinarily long and rich. A remarkable wine and I can see why people say that Grange needs forever to calm down. Drink now with some patience as it really started to tell more after some air and it should be awesome through 2037. An outstanding pairing with a Morgan Ranch Tomahawk! My very first Grange and, hopefully, not my last!
Notes of olive, leather, cassis, vanilla, prune, blackberry, and tobacco come through. This wine has more time but it is starting to show its age drink now or hold for another decade. 95 classic!!
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Mint, black pepper, soy, black olive, dried fruit - sultana, plum, blackberry. Medium acid. Very long finish. Unfortunately, got a little lost in the evening but superb to drink.
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Eye: dark, ruby, young Nose: fresh, vibrant berries, mint, white pepper, laurel, wood smoke, licorice, muscat, bourbon vanilla, caramel Palate: blackberry, licorice, vanilla, tobacco (?), dark chocolate. Tannin: present but integrated Acidity: medium to high Quality: excellent. ready to drink but I think the wine is a sleeper and will benefit from another 10 years.
5h decanted, 18°-20°, paired with the best lamb racks I ever had by Dave.
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A few observations: A) The wines undoubtedly deserve their legendary status. Few wines manage to square the circle of being intense, rich in substance and structure, while at the same time being ethereal, delicate and airy. B) The wines are all complex and very precise. With age (and/or air) the wines show a Rayas-like pure red berry fruit to die for. Other defining aromas are the minty/eucalyptus notes and especially the sweet spice I find in many Aussie Shirazes. C) The wines age at a glacial pace. Even the 40+ year old wines are still quite young and all will need a lot of decanting. D) All the wines were on a high level (except for one subpar bottle of the 2000). The winner was the magical 1982 (98pts), the epitome of elegance and balance.
TN: Expressive nose with dark, ripe fruit, espresso, herbs, minty notes. Seductive, balanced. On the palate the same aromas, the same intensity, but the wine remains light and airy with an ultra fine frame. Quite balanced. The oak is still be a bit prominent here but the substance, structure and length are very promising. This could be magical in 15+ years.
Decanting: All wines were quickly double decanted 3h before the tasting. In my experience Grange usually needs hours of proper decanting. This bottle would have been better with at least 3-4 hours in the decanter.
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Grange vertical (Wunderbrunnen, Opfikon): Part of a 7-vintage vertical (key takeaways in the tasting story). This one was additionally aerated. A dark aroma profile with dark cherry, bramble berry and plum. Smoke, black tea and dried leaves. Maybe from the distance elements of black olives and meat. Not much going on in terms of Asian spice. Intense and dense palate with primary fruit, brighter than on the nose. Electric acidity and velvety texture, impeccable balance.
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Four decades of Penfolds Grange (Chicago, IL): In the context of the younger wines, I found this a bit of an underperformer. It shows very, very dark and ripe, and pushes that boundary a little bit too far for me. Intense black cherry and American oak, but missing some of the lift that I want on the palate. The alcohol juts out a tad here, but overall this is still an impressive wine. It'll just need a lot more time to fully integrate.
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Classic grange nose with plenty of lovely cedar wafting from the glass. Decanted for 4 hours and drank it over 2 - the last glass was the best. This has many years in front of it and is just approaching the start of its drinking window now. Worth holding on for another 10 years before opening the next one so you can see what all the grange fuss is about. The good vintages of these wines really need 30 years to gain the necessary complexity but they are all class even from their youth.
Penfolds Grange 2002 Drank direct from bottle, opened 45 minutes before drinking, with all bros in HK. :) This Penfolds was the thorn among roses.....very Aussie on the nose, very different over the other 3 bottles of Bordeaux. Color was bright, deep purple, with reasonable clarity. Though 21 years of age, nose was very refreshing, tons of fruits, intense red, strawberry, raspberry, with some blueberry. Very Aussie....greath strength, toasted herbs, slight oak, cedar, little oak, nice nose. Entry was extremely smooth, very silky, refine tannins, subdued acidity, she's at her prime.....enjoy for next 3-5 years. Mid palate was full, rich with strong characters, chewy and meaty. Long finished, lasted beyond 55 seconds. Drink within next 5 years before she goes downstream. 94 points.
The nose is the standout on this. Coconut and charry oak. Unfortunately doesn’t translate as well on the palate. Feels a bit generic and short on length. Two bottles back to back and both showed the same. I wouldn’t hold these much longer.
Decanted the wine for one and a half hours. Took a further hour plus to open up. The pedigree of Grange is in mistakable but it’s not the best Grange that I’ve ever had. While it offers a lot on the nose, the palate is a bit monotone, and the length is short. perhaps it’s the bottle, regrettably I don’t have another one to compare to.
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Sea, Feather and Land (New Jersey): In my cellar since 2008. Decanted at 3pm for serving at 8pm beside 1988 Jaboulet La Chapelle Hermitage with Shane’s pan-seared, duck with black eyed peas and duck foil gras. This is an obviously modern style wine, big, masculine and unapologetic. Still drinking very young. It is opaque, garnet purple. The nose is exuberant, spicy, fruity and with obvious oak generated notes of vanilla, cedar and a whiff of alcohol (though the label shows only 14.5% ABV). Acidity is medium(-) and modest on tannin as well. But big on fruit… especially blackberry/boysenberry. It is rich, chewy, and savory and quite long on the finish. Those at the table that prefer bigger, more fruit forward wines thought this was the WOTN while those like me preferred the old world La Chapelle, Mouton or Latricieres-Chambertin. This has certainly got plenty of life ahead.
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Gorgeous deep dark fruit and pepper Shiraz nose. Spice and freshness, but it’s all about the depth. Really full on the palate, massive fruit masking big tannins and acidic freshness. As I’ve come to learn is the norm with Grange the impressive thing is the balance. Compared to others I’ve had this is at the elegant end of the spectrum: actually drinkable at 20 years old!
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NYE 2021 (our place): Decanted two hours prior. Deep- colour intensity. Ruby/mahogany core, not showing much development. Complex and intense but refine nose. Blackberry and plum, some red fruits too, tobacco, leather, sage, anise and spices. As we worked our way through the bottle stronger notes of lavender and violets emerged. I found the nose improved considerably by the end of the bottle. Palate: full to medium body - not too big. Smooth tannins, well integrated. Great texture and structure. Smooth, persistent finish. Will drink well for 10+ years.
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I normally don't write tasting notes on wines that my friends supply, rather than wines that come from my collection. This wine, however, is an exception and worth a few comments. First, the wine reminds me of the 82 Mouton, which I've been lucky enough to have twice in my life. It reminds of the 82 Mouton because it has that same immortal ageless quality. Second, this wine, despite its age, is a mere baby. There is incredible fruit here, but the wine is just starting to come into its drinkability window. I would hold another couple of years before consuming. There is plenty of stuffing here to last another 20 or more years. A lovely bottle of wine that in my mind echoes the 82 Mouton. Enjoy!!
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How to review something like this? First of all Grange is always a good wine. Tasted side by side with a 95 to celebrate my wife's citizenship! The nose came across as a bit overripe, almost porty. However the palette was plush lovely and seemless. The tannins did get a bit more assertive over the evening, but don't be in a hurry to consume.
The 95 by comparison was much more drying and tannic on the palette. Tried blind I would have guessed Bordeaux from a warmer vintage.
Lovely wine, but don't serve it to the girls lookin to partay, they just won't get it!
Had this in a lineup against a 99 Chave Hermitage. Definitely a highlight wine of the day, not your 'typical' Syrah by any stretch, quite smooth and just entering the drinking window
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This is probably as good as a Shiraz gets. From Nose to taste to length it’s very enjoyable. Happy to be proven wrong on the as good as it gets claim btw.... definitely in the drinking window
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Tar, asphalt, licorice, blueberry, stewed fruit on the palate, the is aged and awesome - oak is definitely present but tons of fruit remains, that being said, I think I would drink this sooner rather than later.
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Big huge tannins. Second bottle on my 40th, corkage. This is full bodied and needs food. My first and only grange to date after enjoying the St. Henri for a long while. Given the alcohol content this can go for years. You need food with this.
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95-96: stuffed to the gills, this monster still has massive tannins, although the wine drank more elegantly than any one of this vintage I'd had before. The blue fruit is still vibrant, the finish just goes on and on. The distinct cedar/menthol notes are still there, but seemed muted. It could have been me by this point. Close to WOTN next to Pavie.
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A brilliant example of this mythical wine which has grown into one of the Grand Vins of the world. The 2002 Grange is slowly moving into a stage of balanced maturity. The fruit is velvety, soft and almost silky with flowers, raspberry, dark chocolate, infused tea accompanied by a subtly roasted bacon fat. The nose is profoundly complex and without slightest doubt puts a dot over the i for me. When tasting, all expectations are met. The different aspects of the palate all speak up harmoniously. Integration and balance are perfect. The acidity adds to the soft and balanced tannins in a very pleasant way. Still there is a lot of power and enough texture to have this effort age nicely for another couple of decades or more. With a length on the finish that just goes on and on, this wine certainly deserves all the merit it can get. (score is 98+)
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Opened alongside a 2008 SQN B 20, the Grange was a little better when first tasted but the gap just got wider as dinner went on. This clearly has a lot of time left in it, but after a long decant was drinking beautifully. Blackberries, cherries, currants, plums, chocolate, licorice, leather, floral... it just kept changing with every swallow. An elegant wine with great balance and a very long finish. I look forward to seeing where this goes in 10-15 years!
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Agree with the last note - you only need to look at the colour of this wine to see it's still a baby - deep ruby (almost black still); and I also agree with Jay Miller, that the bouquet is just ethereal...so much there: floral notes (get the violets), blackberries and blueberries, tar, liquorice, saddle leather, pepper and spices. Yes, it was still tight after half an hour of breathing - so I left it in decanter for 2 hours, definitely needs more, but don't know about 4 hours, let alone 24. Massive backbone, structure, multi-layered, and such silky, smoothness. Wow !!! This has to be the best Syrah in the world. And definitely has a long life ahead of it.
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Penfolds Grange Vertical (Sixteen, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose was aromatic and ripe with vanilla, dark red cherries, raspberries, chocolate, ash, licorice, liqueur tones, and eucalyptus. There is excellent balance, depth, and class with this being wide open right now.
Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and medium+ tannins. The tannins are silky, but youthful with the feel showing excellent depth with vanilla, dark red cherries, raspberries, eucalyptus, ash notes, and some liqueur.
Overall: This was a beautiful, young Grange. It was starting to show some more development and adding in extra complexity from the previous two Granges. Still, it's quite young and in need of plenty of more time to fully kick in to that final gear.
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At 14 years of age this wine is still a baby. Impenetrable black in colour (still!), the cool growing season is evident at every step. This Grange is all about dark fruits, brooding power and flavours of licorice, soy, blackberry and plum. After a 7 hour decant the wine remained relatively tight - clearly this one has many, many years ahead of it. Wouldn't recommend opening today unless you absolutely have to or if you have time to give it, say, a 24 hour decant.
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As hoped and expected; beautiful colour; a wonderful bouquet, with black fruits of various kinds the engine, oak in tow. Impeccable texture and balance in the mouth; again, a wonderful array of seamless blackberry, licorice and high-quality oak; destined to become recognised as one of the great Granges.
Drink by: 2050
Date tasted: 13 Mar 2007
Price: $500.00
Alcohol: 14.5%
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Dark fruits on the nose and palate, with a purity I've rarely experienced in an Aussie Shiraz. Blueberries, dark cherries, and a hint of pepper, with the only knock being a slight metallic aftertaste that disappeared after half an hour in the glass. Not tannic at all, and my wife kept commenting on how smooth it was. We did try both dark chocolate and chocolate with sea salt, but both overpowered the wine. Given this, I'd be cautious about what food pairing to use; I'd recommend drinking it by itself.
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Dinner at Aria, Sydney. Wave upon wave of lush flavours make this the most sensuous of wines: chocolate, leather, damp herbs, berries, honey, apples, cinnamon, game. Yet its so so smooth and finely structured. This was a Coravin pour too which made the experience very unique. Been under Coravin for a week and to be honest the tongue detects some mutedness, but certainly much less degradation than with other preservation methods. A lovely drink.
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Beautiful deep crimson-ruby color. Complex nose of dark fruits, oak, soy, and cracked wheat, showing some fumey alcohol. A somewhat restrained Grange on the palate, lacking the stuffing to balance the hot alcohol. Bright fruit does emerge through the short finish, along with sticky tannins. Not flawed, just a disappointment, though fairly representative of the modern Grange style. 14.5% abv
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My first Grange. Blueberry, smoke, leather, sweet tannins. Velvety texture. Long finish. Lacking a bit in complexity but would have benefited from air, let alone bottle age. Quite a tour de force.
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My first encounter with Grange. Drank to celebrate my son's promotion. Dark purple in color. Decanted and consumed over two hours. Wonderful complexity and balance made this very special! It had dark fruit, spice, smoke, black cherry, grilled meat, subtle black pepper but it was all so well integrated that nothing dominated or was over the top. Terrific juice. I can see why this is considered Australia's top Shiraz.
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Oak, blueberry & raspberries, plum?, pepper. Palate coating with 60 second finish. Still somewhat tannic, but not over the top, well integrated. For my taste @ early peak. Best Aussie wine I've had. High viscosity. Cassis/blueberry, but not jammy. CRAZY depth. Will haunt my dreams. Aussie Shiraz can be done differently but not all that much better.
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Penfolds Grange & others (Extra Space): Aired in decanter for 1 hour before tasting. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purple colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of earth, smoky meat, dark black plums, blackberries, licorice. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol, very fine medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of earth, slight smoky meat, dark black plums, blackberries, licorice, spice. Very long finish. Deep, dark and brooding. Interestingly showing some hints of tertiary development. But tightness of the concentrated black fruit could still be loosened up more with further ageing. Outstanding quality. This should be even more wonderful in 10 years' time.
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Penfolds Grange Wine Dinner at Botrini's (Botrini's Restaurant Athens): Much was anticipated from the '02, but the wine seemed closed and only offered a promise for a future enjoyment. Clearly a very good wine with velvety texture and concentration but not in the mood that night...
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Penfolds Grange Wine Dinner at Botrini's (Botrini Restaurant, Athens, Greece): This was supposed to be one of the stars of the night but it proved otherwise. It was served alongside the theoretically inferior 2000, but the latter was much more enjoyable and open for busyness at this stage. Maybe the tightest of all the Granges served, and the one in need of longer cellaring. Still very powerful on the palate and with all the components that promise a bright future.
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A very serious wine. Dark, brooding and initially quite forbidding. With some time in the glass it revealed layers of fruit, graphite, smoke, chocolate, thyme. Truly great.
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I picked up a case at Costco for $75 and cellared for a few years. I open a bottle every 12-14 months -- consuming this bottle with 4 couples who brought some excellent bottles. Hit it out of the park with rich smooth, but deep flavor and a perfect finish. The tannins are giving way to an elegant wine, but the fruit is still present.
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Drank it together with Thomas at home against 2006 Latour with Beef filet. Very Young Aromas of black berries, typical australian syrah chocolate note, vanilla, alittle bit oak, complex but dominated from thr fruit Phase, Tannins mighty, but soft you feel new World but it will last at least 15 more years. four hours of decantation, alcohol well integrated. Compared with the 1997 second winner but secondary and tertiar Aromas are missing to get his complete Beauty I guess 96-98points
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Drunk over lunch on a hot day after 3 hours decanting, this bottle was very "available", although still immature.
Has very smooth ripe tannins, slightly porty alcoholic overtones and voluminous blackcurrants (on the nose and palate), beautifully integrated with soy/black olive and complex dark fruits, woven in among very refined but obvious American oak characters. Spice characters are more subdued than last bottle in 2011 but that Grange flavour is at least as obvious.
Will never be as good as the legendary 1971 (as the 14.5% alcohol in the 02 significantly detracts, particularly on the palate) but this is a great Grange by modern standards of excessively alcoholic wines. What a dreadful shame that the wine-making has gone backwards with the excess alcohol. Oh for those classic Granges of the 50's, 60's and 70's...
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Bottle 10688. Decanted 1 hour. Judging by the nose, this was most open at 30 minutes, and then it started to close down; at 2 hours it was shut down completely...nothing but acid water. When at its best during the tasting it showed extreme quality and purity. The nose is concentrated but restrained, distant molasses notes, wild blackberry, elegant floral and spice character. More time in the glass adds even more spice, especially clove, cinnamon, and black pepper. The palate has the same high quality about it, polished, compact, firm acidity throughout the palate but particularly overbearing on the finish. This has tons of potential, obviously, but won't be at peak for 10-15 years. Drink 2022-2040.
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Just awesome. Bouquet of flower, blueberry, earth, and graphite. Flavors of blackberry, plum, coffee, licorice and mint are added when tasted. Light and graceful vs. expectations. Flavors go on and on. This should last for 20 more years.
Took a while for it settle. Wonderful gorgeous fruit emerged once the heat of the alcohol settled down. Beautiful undertones of vanilla, spice and berries. An amazing wine. Probably still needs a few more years and would score even higher!
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Langton's Penfolds Masterclass with Andrew Caillard MW. Much less of a dark heart than the '08. Less candied aromas than the '96, but a wonderful nose. Much black fruit for the palate, slight alcohol and very long. My fav was the '96, many chose the '02.
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The first vintage of Peter Gago, good job. Fragrant flowers and plums with liquorice and spices, still young. The body is huge, oak influence still obvious, but the acidity is sufficient. Top quality Barossa, to drink or to keep.
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veri classic.comples,elegance,well integrate,vibrant.it has almost everyting tat a serious wine drinker looking for.i wud hve gve another 2 to 3 pts more if it has a bordeaux taste palate
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Jammy black raspberry, rich and full of fruit. Very approachable now, which was a bit of a surprise. Was expecting it to be tighter and less forgiving at this age.
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Drunk with a spaghetti marinara after being double decanted 5 hours earlier; a nice accompaniment.
Nose: On initial opening was distinctly vanillary, with weeping peppermint (as we have here in Australia) overtones bordering on menthol; with hints of camphor and lifted, very ripe plummy fruit. There was a nice hint of white spice and a musky incense character plus some tar and black olives as well. Anisette came to the fore later on.
Palate: Powerful and emphatic yet very, very smooth; “seamless and seductive” as my coffee roaster friend said. Flavours of dark plums and blackberry and a hint porty. I wasn't attracted to the porty hints but the well integrated oak was already adding that wonderful, distinctive Grange character. Is great to see that unique flavour starting to develop.
A top notch (albeit very ripe style) wine which already is very smooth, complex, emphatic and seductive all at the same time. My wife is completely unaffected by labels and just calls it as she sees it. She loved it, even at this very youthful stage. It will not peak until after 2020 at least but don't shy away from it now if you get the chance. I will mark it higher as it matures.
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Blind Syrah Tasting w/ Ryan Johnson, Dick Boushey, Eric LeVine, and MrBigJ (Wild Ginger, Seattle, WA): Tasted blind. (Group's #2 (my #1)) – 6 first place votes, 1 second place vote, 4 third place votes, 1 fourth place vote – The nose was loaded with mint and chocolate aromas and also had some mineral notes. David mentioned a pickle barrel aroma that I hadn't noticed until he clued me in on it. The palate had flavors of mixed dark berries, spices and eucalyptus. I thought that this could be a Thackrey Orion again - but not even close... Once the tasting was over, I went back to get another pour of the Grange, and the minty/eucalyptus notes seemed to have a harder edge to them then they did while we were tasting this flight, but that could very well also be because of palate fatigue... The group was really divided on this flight - Even with 6 out of 12 first place votes, the Grange ended up finishing second in this flight overall...
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This wine is a triumph. Absolutely smooth as silk, very long finish, beautiful nose filled with dark berried fruits and a hint of spice. A perfect blend. Readuy to drink now and appears it could last almost forever. Wish I had more of these. Wow !
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Bottle 88615 drunk 5 Nov 2010 at a restaurant lunch in Cairns, QLD, straight after decanting. Could not believe how well it drank in the circumstances.
Appearance: Deep and dark and with huge alcoholic legs that suggested a wine much less elegant than it turned out to be.
Nose: Lovely intense rich, ripe (but not porty) sweet blackberry fruit with old leather characters and camphory oak, with vanilla particularly apparent on the cork. Typical Grange but white pepper whiff surprised me a bit. Very enticing.
Palate: Surprisingly elegant and approachable for an 8 year old Grange (I normally recommend not drinking within 15 years of vintage). Refined and smooth, warm and ripe, with nicely rounded shoulders yet a hint of green on the finish which tightened it up nicely. Delicate white pepper (over black olives) added to the impression of a classy although rich, ripe luscious style. Lovely sweet vanilla added to a very complex palate. Beautifully balanced and much more refined than its 14.5% alcohol implies. Oak is obviously American but is beautifully integrated and without the chalky graininess that one sometimes sees.
A superb wine, worthy of its lofty reputation. I expect to mark it even higher as it matures.
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Unbelievably smooth with a beautiful nose - right amount of oak and a hint of vanilla - this is a truly awesome wine, and seems ready to go. Beautiful fruit, followed by a strong mid-palate and super silky smooth tannins. Definitely worth the price tag!
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Monthly Tasting Group HWS #051; TOP Australia. (by EvA): Beautiful bouquet with black fruits and spices. On the palate very juicy black berries and chocolate. Very soft, but not showing itself completely yet. Wait for about 5 years and it will even be better. 95+
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2010 Penfolds Tasting (Liner and Elsen, Portland OR): The nose here reminds me of a full dinner showing a pot roast with vegetables, some blackberry pie with a nice crust, and even an after-dinner mint making a light contribution. It starts out with a soft feel and a slow evolution of flavor that's already beginning to show a big of aged character on the apple and blackberry fruit. Apple peels show later on the palate, and the tannins remain full and balanced all the way through. The acidity is balanced. Way out on the finish, I get some red cherry flavors too.
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Penfolds Tasting Seminar (Liner & Elsen Wine Merchants, Portland, OR): Wine #9. From magnum. 98.5% Shiraz, 1.5% Cab in the blend. Huge nose of black fruit pepper and vanilla. Such an immense wine, and so damn good! Fruit for days...blackberry, sweet with oaky vanilla. Still just a baby, especially from magnum.
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WFA 2009 Grange Vertical Tasting: Kinda of frunky like nose, acrylic. Seemly advanced as compare to the earlier ones. Nail polish with seemly hollow aromas. Very modern palate with thick tannins rather shut but some orangery, violet taste. Good lingering finish but coating thick fine tannins. Needs more age before drinkable.
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Bottle No. 04911, Color - Dark, dark black/red. Nose - Peppered, currant, candied cherry. Flavor - Raseberry, Oak, toasted nutmeg or wood. Balanced flavors across the whole pallet. The aftertaste was explosive and everlasting. Great mouth feel with creamy textured aftertaste. Complemented salmon with a shrimp and crab alexander sauce.
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Weekend in Cambria-Moonstone lunch after Experience tour at Hearst Castle. Courtesy of the Reno brothers. This was great right out of the bottle. Wonderful black fruit, slight coffee, with the acidity in check. Milked it for about 45 minutes, and again, the best was the last drop.
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No rating. Purchased upon release......properly cellared. Decanted 4 hours prior to dinner. Limited aromatics, beautiful garnet color in the glass. Completely closed and unyielding. Opening this now was simply foolish. I'll try again in 2018.
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This time much more open wine. Popped and poured, on the nose a mixture of intense dark red and black fruits, fresh blueberries and leather. Silky mooth texture in the mouth, strong blueberries and a touch of menthol. I'm amazed at how much this has opened since I last had in October '07. I could drink this wine all night long. Amazing wine!
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Very concentrated in all aspects. Almost black in color. Elegant, high acidity, aftertaste to die for (at least, it stayed until the morning after - and yes, I do brush my teeth even after a Grange). Spicy notes mixed with blackcurrant and tobacco. A bit closed, this was definitely too young but still a great wine experience.
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Aromatics of mint, lavender, andes candies, menthol, eucalyptus, white pepper and flowers..just stunning...one of the most perfumed wines I have had. Very pure integration with gorgeous natural acid and tannin..this is australian? ;)...I love this, its so well structured around beautiful cherry flavors, pepper, flowers and mint chocolate..long peppery floral finish. The floral element of this is mind blowing!
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Pebble Beach Food & Wine Rare Wine Dinner. High alchohol. port like intensity. limited finesse. Doesn't match my memories of Grange. Last had at the Wine Spectator Tasting a few years back where the 1998 was incredible. Disappointing. Maybe in another 10 years it will be different but right now it was not interesting.
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Wineflock - Australian Cabernets (My House): Group #1, My #1 (ringer) - Opaque deep black/red color. Medium full young nose of black fruit, coffee, and some black spice with more complexity and some cassis notes emerging with air. Incredible richness and energy on the palate - lovely black fruit, cola, and spice with coffee notes on the lingering finish. I was looking forward to opening this given the comparisons to 98 and how well that wine showed young. In this case, the quality and stuffing are there, but it is more traditional in terms of really needing probably at least 10 years to show its stuff. Tuck this one away in back... 95+ pts.
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A baby, but amazing even this young. Inky reddish-black in colour with an intense but very primary nose showing blackberries, plums, blueberries and some coffee. Similar flavours on the palate - incredibly pure, concentrated red and dark fruits and some coffee notes over smooth tannins with a long finish. Wow. My first experience with Grange - thanks a lot Chris! (Group #1, my #2)
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Penfolds Tasting - St Regis: Grange Vertical tasting (82, 86, 90, 94, 95, 99, 00, 01 & 02). Worked my way from the 82 to the 02 with sniffing and drinking. Then when back through all the wines.
Tight and beautiful on the nose, alluding to so much promise. An infant as you can imagine. This is a complete wine, got a menthol note and a mixture of intense dark red and black fruits. So tight but seriously endowed fruit. I believe this wine is a legend in the making. Tied for 2nd place (behind 86 and 90) for Grange WOTN. 96.
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Made from 99% Shiraz and 1% Cabernet sourced from the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, this Grange was aged in 100% new American oak for 15 months. Still fairly impenetrable this Grange is showing early signs of being deep, dark, dense, but well integrated. The nose displays primary fruit and wood. The palate shows balance and poise with violets and a build-up of oak and tannin.
Interestingly, during tasting this wine, Peter Gago regaled the audience with a short talk about the “worst Grange vintages” which, in his opinion, are the 1974, 1984 and 1992. Although, he went on to say that even the “worst” Grange is still a very good wine!
Tasted at the “Penfolds 1990 – Grange and Other Icons” session hosted by Peter Gago at the Decanter New World Fine Wine Encounter, Landmark Hotel, London on the 19th of May 2007
3/2/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 94 Points
Poured into a decanter about 45min prior to dinner. In the glass, the 2002 Grange pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous, with powerful dark brambles, baked blueberries, black pepper, coffee, purple flowers, leather, umami, tilled earth, Flintstones vitamins and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is extraordinarily long and rich. A remarkable wine and I can see why people say that Grange needs forever to calm down. Drink now with some patience as it really started to tell more after some air and it should be awesome through 2037. An outstanding pairing with a Morgan Ranch Tomahawk! My very first Grange and, hopefully, not my last!
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2/23/2024 - Juhruoh007 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Extremely powerful Shiraz at it´s prime. Could have been another 5 years in the cellar but perfect as it is. Awesome!
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1/23/2024 - Chris Keller wrote: 95 Points
Notes of olive, leather, cassis, vanilla, prune, blackberry, and tobacco come through. This wine has more time but it is starting to show its age drink now or hold for another decade. 95 classic!!
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12/23/2023 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 93 Points
Mint, black pepper, soy, black olive, dried fruit - sultana, plum, blackberry. Medium acid. Very long finish. Unfortunately, got a little lost in the evening but superb to drink.
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11/14/2023 - olebaer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Eye: dark, ruby, young
Nose: fresh, vibrant berries, mint, white pepper, laurel, wood smoke, licorice, muscat, bourbon vanilla, caramel
Palate: blackberry, licorice, vanilla, tobacco (?), dark chocolate.
Tannin: present but integrated
Acidity: medium to high
Quality: excellent. ready to drink but I think the wine is a sleeper and will benefit from another 10 years.
5h decanted, 18°-20°, paired with the best lamb racks I ever had by Dave.
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10/29/2023 - Cailles wrote: 95 Points
A few observations: A) The wines undoubtedly deserve their legendary status. Few wines manage to square the circle of being intense, rich in substance and structure, while at the same time being ethereal, delicate and airy. B) The wines are all complex and very precise. With age (and/or air) the wines show a Rayas-like pure red berry fruit to die for. Other defining aromas are the minty/eucalyptus notes and especially the sweet spice I find in many Aussie Shirazes. C) The wines age at a glacial pace. Even the 40+ year old wines are still quite young and all will need a lot of decanting. D) All the wines were on a high level (except for one subpar bottle of the 2000). The winner was the magical 1982 (98pts), the epitome of elegance and balance.
TN: Expressive nose with dark, ripe fruit, espresso, herbs, minty notes. Seductive, balanced. On the palate the same aromas, the same intensity, but the wine remains light and airy with an ultra fine frame. Quite balanced. The oak is still be a bit prominent here but the substance, structure and length are very promising. This could be magical in 15+ years.
Decanting: All wines were quickly double decanted 3h before the tasting. In my experience Grange usually needs hours of proper decanting. This bottle would have been better with at least 3-4 hours in the decanter.
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10/3/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 96 Points
Grange vertical (Wunderbrunnen, Opfikon): Part of a 7-vintage vertical (key takeaways in the tasting story). This one was additionally aerated. A dark aroma profile with dark cherry, bramble berry and plum. Smoke, black tea and dried leaves. Maybe from the distance elements of black olives and meat. Not much going on in terms of Asian spice. Intense and dense palate with primary fruit, brighter than on the nose. Electric acidity and velvety texture, impeccable balance.
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9/28/2023 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Four decades of Penfolds Grange (Chicago, IL): In the context of the younger wines, I found this a bit of an underperformer. It shows very, very dark and ripe, and pushes that boundary a little bit too far for me. Intense black cherry and American oak, but missing some of the lift that I want on the palate. The alcohol juts out a tad here, but overall this is still an impressive wine. It'll just need a lot more time to fully integrate.
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9/15/2023 - Paco55 wrote: 95 Points
Classic grange nose with plenty of lovely cedar wafting from the glass. Decanted for 4 hours and drank it over 2 - the last glass was the best. This has many years in front of it and is just approaching the start of its drinking window now. Worth holding on for another 10 years before opening the next one so you can see what all the grange fuss is about. The good vintages of these wines really need 30 years to gain the necessary complexity but they are all class even from their youth.
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6/18/2023 - mark2eye wrote: 95 Points
Notes of truffles and herb. With time notes of strawberries and balsamic vinegar shine through. Such an elegant sophisticated wine.
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4/8/2023 - WK88 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Penfolds Grange 2002
Drank direct from bottle, opened 45 minutes before drinking, with all bros in HK. :)
This Penfolds was the thorn among roses.....very Aussie on the nose, very different over the other 3 bottles of Bordeaux. Color was bright, deep purple, with reasonable clarity. Though 21 years of age, nose was very refreshing, tons of fruits, intense red, strawberry, raspberry, with some blueberry. Very Aussie....greath strength, toasted herbs, slight oak, cedar, little oak, nice nose. Entry was extremely smooth, very silky, refine tannins, subdued acidity, she's at her prime.....enjoy for next 3-5 years. Mid palate was full, rich with strong characters, chewy and meaty. Long finished, lasted beyond 55 seconds. Drink within next 5 years before she goes downstream. 94 points.
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4/2/2023 - Jimmy_D wrote: 92 Points
The nose is the standout on this. Coconut and charry oak. Unfortunately doesn’t translate as well on the palate. Feels a bit generic and short on length. Two bottles back to back and both showed the same. I wouldn’t hold these much longer.
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1/30/2023 - Indywinefan Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wonderful nose that was apparent upon opening. Took awhile for the flavor to open up. I decanted for 1.5 hours. Nice cherry.
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12/26/2022 - RobertLA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted the wine for one and a half hours. Took a further hour plus to open up. The pedigree of Grange is in mistakable but it’s not the best Grange that I’ve ever had. While it offers a lot on the nose, the palate is a bit monotone, and the length is short. perhaps it’s the bottle, regrettably I don’t have another one to compare to.
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11/12/2022 - lesz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really nice. Quite a contrast from my prior bottle.
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10/1/2022 - lesz Likes this wine: 90 Points
somewhat disappointing
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7/21/2022 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sea, Feather and Land (New Jersey): In my cellar since 2008. Decanted at 3pm for serving at 8pm beside 1988 Jaboulet La Chapelle Hermitage with Shane’s pan-seared, duck with black eyed peas and duck foil gras. This is an obviously modern style wine, big, masculine and unapologetic. Still drinking very young. It is opaque, garnet purple. The nose is exuberant, spicy, fruity and with obvious oak generated notes of vanilla, cedar and a whiff of alcohol (though the label shows only 14.5% ABV). Acidity is medium(-) and modest on tannin as well. But big on fruit… especially blackberry/boysenberry. It is rich, chewy, and savory and quite long on the finish. Those at the table that prefer bigger, more fruit forward wines thought this was the WOTN while those like me preferred the old world La Chapelle, Mouton or Latricieres-Chambertin. This has certainly got plenty of life ahead.
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7/21/2022 - skurtz Likes this wine: 96 Points
Gorgeous nose, huge cherries, smoke, oak. Amazing, transcendentally paired with duck on a bed of foie gras. My WOTN.
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6/26/2022 - jamesabdavis wrote:
Gorgeous deep dark fruit and pepper Shiraz nose. Spice and freshness, but it’s all about the depth.
Really full on the palate, massive fruit masking big tannins and acidic freshness.
As I’ve come to learn is the norm with Grange the impressive thing is the balance. Compared to others I’ve had this is at the elegant end of the spectrum: actually drinkable at 20 years old!
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4/4/2022 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 97 Points
WFFT auction dinner celebrating Larry Peel (Thomas residence, Austin, TX): Tremendously good. Not quite at the same level as the 1998 and 2004, which I've enjoyed on multiple occasions each in the last two years, but still fantastic. Should continue improving with time.
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12/31/2021 - BAJRiley Likes this wine: 95 Points
NYE 2021 (our place): Decanted two hours prior. Deep- colour intensity. Ruby/mahogany core, not showing much development. Complex and intense but refine nose. Blackberry and plum, some red fruits too, tobacco, leather, sage, anise and spices. As we worked our way through the bottle stronger notes of lavender and violets emerged. I found the nose improved considerably by the end of the bottle. Palate: full to medium body - not too big. Smooth tannins, well integrated. Great texture and structure. Smooth, persistent finish. Will drink well for 10+ years.
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12/25/2021 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 98 Points
Simply superb!
Glorious dark fruit, absolutely lovely texture and a long long finish.
What an experience ….enjoyed with our family ….how special!
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11/29/2021 - NEducatedGes Likes this wine: 97 Points
Thanksgiving day! Menthol, Sage .. smooth but powerful, I have never tasted wine like this from nose to finish this was an amazing experience!
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11/29/2021 - levicn Likes this wine: 93 Points
醒酒两小时，闻香有肉鲜味，淡淡青味，芝麻香气，黑李子和奶油味，入口酸度中高，非常明亮，酒液甜美，酸甜平衡，单宁紧致，香气很奔放，成熟黑果混合着紫罗兰，口感粘稠，后段是橡木桶烘烤的气息，余味有李子，红苹果，杨梅的果香以及淡淡木质香气和香草味。一款新旧世界交融风格的酒，浓郁而又甜美，但仍然保留着一些旧世界的优雅，一流的平衡感，非常好喝。
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10/17/2021 - A&C Likes this wine: 95 Points
I normally don't write tasting notes on wines that my friends supply, rather than wines that come from my collection. This wine, however, is an exception and worth a few comments. First, the wine reminds me of the 82 Mouton, which I've been lucky enough to have twice in my life. It reminds of the 82 Mouton because it has that same immortal ageless quality. Second, this wine, despite its age, is a mere baby. There is incredible fruit here, but the wine is just starting to come into its drinkability window. I would hold another couple of years before consuming. There is plenty of stuffing here to last another 20 or more years. A lovely bottle of wine that in my mind echoes the 82 Mouton. Enjoy!!
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5/7/2021 - wineguy75 Likes this wine: 98 Points
pnp. Drank blink vs. 19th nail in my cranium & enjoyed this wine more. Explosive fruit and special experience.
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4/9/2021 - Barnaby33 wrote:
How to review something like this? First of all Grange is always a good wine. Tasted side by side with a 95 to celebrate my wife's citizenship! The nose came across as a bit overripe, almost porty. However the palette was plush lovely and seemless. The tannins did get a bit more assertive over the evening, but don't be in a hurry to consume.
The 95 by comparison was much more drying and tannic on the palette. Tried blind I would have guessed Bordeaux from a warmer vintage.
Lovely wine, but don't serve it to the girls lookin to partay, they just won't get it!
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11/30/2020 - justlaz wrote: 96 Points
Had this in a lineup against a 99 Chave Hermitage. Definitely a highlight wine of the day, not your 'typical' Syrah by any stretch, quite smooth and just entering the drinking window
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4/11/2020 - djn63 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is probably as good as a Shiraz gets. From
Nose to taste to length it’s very enjoyable. Happy to be proven wrong on the as good as it gets claim btw.... definitely in the drinking window
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4/11/2020 - Charlie Carnes Does not like this wine: 85 Points
I just do not get these wines. 18 years old, and no flaws. It just bulky, clumsy, heat tinged. It is just not a wine for me. Bottle# 10436
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4/5/2020 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tar, asphalt, licorice, blueberry, stewed fruit on the palate, the is aged and awesome - oak is definitely present but tons of fruit remains, that being said, I think I would drink this sooner rather than later.
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2/12/2020 - ewasowicz wrote: 98 Points
Nose: I could just smell this all night. Caramel, blackberry, blueberry
Taste: smooth long finish of blackberry, some cherry and light oak. Amazing.
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9/27/2019 - bordeauxmartini wrote: 93 Points
Big huge tannins. Second bottle on my 40th, corkage. This is full bodied and needs food. My first and only grange to date after enjoying the St. Henri for a long while. Given the alcohol content this can go for years. You need food with this.
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8/3/2019 - BBinSC wrote: 96 Points
95-96: stuffed to the gills, this monster still has massive tannins, although the wine drank more elegantly than any one of this vintage I'd had before. The blue fruit is still vibrant, the finish just goes on and on. The distinct cedar/menthol notes are still there, but seemed muted. It could have been me by this point. Close to WOTN next to Pavie.
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7/22/2019 - europat55 wrote: 91 Points
Nose: B++/A- Palate: B++
My #9, Group's #7 (64 pts). Tasted blind.
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6/29/2019 - SlimShaney Likes this wine: 98 Points
Drinking with Factor 2002, which is awesome. Tough battle. Factor is rich. Grange is ...dark.
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4/7/2018 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 98 Points
A brilliant example of this mythical wine which has grown into one of the Grand Vins of the world. The 2002 Grange is slowly moving into a stage of balanced maturity. The fruit is velvety, soft and almost silky with flowers, raspberry, dark chocolate, infused tea accompanied by a subtly roasted bacon fat. The nose is profoundly complex and without slightest doubt puts a dot over the i for me. When tasting, all expectations are met. The different aspects of the palate all speak up harmoniously. Integration and balance are perfect. The acidity adds to the soft and balanced tannins in a very pleasant way. Still there is a lot of power and enough texture to have this effort age nicely for another couple of decades or more. With a length on the finish that just goes on and on, this wine certainly deserves all the merit it can get. (score is 98+)
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3/28/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Opened alongside a 2008 SQN B 20, the Grange was a little better when first tasted but the gap just got wider as dinner went on. This clearly has a lot of time left in it, but after a long decant was drinking beautifully. Blackberries, cherries, currants, plums, chocolate, licorice, leather, floral... it just kept changing with every swallow. An elegant wine with great balance and a very long finish. I look forward to seeing where this goes in 10-15 years!
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2/22/2018 - We Can Share the Wine wrote: 97 Points
Loved this as it opened up. Sublime.
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1/1/2018 - BlancdeBlanc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose: anise, eucalyptus, chocolate, crème brûlée. Palate: dried fruit – raisins. Not as good as the 1998 Grange which was amazing.
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8/3/2017 - RISM Likes this wine: 96 Points
Agree with the last note - you only need to look at the colour of this wine to see it's still a baby - deep ruby (almost black still); and I also agree with Jay Miller, that the bouquet is just ethereal...so much there: floral notes (get the violets), blackberries and blueberries, tar, liquorice, saddle leather, pepper and spices. Yes, it was still tight after half an hour of breathing - so I left it in decanter for 2 hours, definitely needs more, but don't know about 4 hours, let alone 24. Massive backbone, structure, multi-layered, and such silky, smoothness. Wow !!! This has to be the best Syrah in the world. And definitely has a long life ahead of it.
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3/8/2017 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
Penfolds Grange Vertical (Sixteen, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose was aromatic and ripe with vanilla, dark red cherries, raspberries, chocolate, ash, licorice, liqueur tones, and eucalyptus. There is excellent balance, depth, and class with this being wide open right now.
Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and medium+ tannins. The tannins are silky, but youthful with the feel showing excellent depth with vanilla, dark red cherries, raspberries, eucalyptus, ash notes, and some liqueur.
Overall: This was a beautiful, young Grange. It was starting to show some more development and adding in extra complexity from the previous two Granges. Still, it's quite young and in need of plenty of more time to fully kick in to that final gear.
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12/17/2016 - hk_wine Likes this wine: 95 Points
At 14 years of age this wine is still a baby. Impenetrable black in colour (still!), the cool growing season is evident at every step. This Grange is all about dark fruits, brooding power and flavours of licorice, soy, blackberry and plum. After a 7 hour decant the wine remained relatively tight - clearly this one has many, many years ahead of it. Wouldn't recommend opening today unless you absolutely have to or if you have time to give it, say, a 24 hour decant.
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8/1/2016 - jenmather73 Likes this wine: 97 Points
James Halliday's wine tasting note
As hoped and expected; beautiful colour; a wonderful bouquet, with black fruits of various kinds the engine, oak in tow. Impeccable texture and balance in the mouth; again, a wonderful array of seamless blackberry, licorice and high-quality oak; destined to become recognised as one of the great Granges.
Drink by: 2050
Date tasted: 13 Mar 2007
Price: $500.00
Alcohol: 14.5%
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6/6/2016 - Crunge Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark fruits on the nose and palate, with a purity I've rarely experienced in an Aussie Shiraz. Blueberries, dark cherries, and a hint of pepper, with the only knock being a slight metallic aftertaste that disappeared after half an hour in the glass. Not tannic at all, and my wife kept commenting on how smooth it was. We did try both dark chocolate and chocolate with sea salt, but both overpowered the wine. Given this, I'd be cautious about what food pairing to use; I'd recommend drinking it by itself.
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4/15/2016 - bengti Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dinner at Aria, Sydney. Wave upon wave of lush flavours make this the most sensuous of wines: chocolate, leather, damp herbs, berries, honey, apples, cinnamon, game. Yet its so so smooth and finely structured. This was a Coravin pour too which made the experience very unique. Been under Coravin for a week and to be honest the tongue detects some mutedness, but certainly much less degradation than with other preservation methods. A lovely drink.
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3/20/2016 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 97 Points
consistent with notes of 1/12/2014 - this will last many, many years.
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3/12/2016 - petitblanc wrote: 89 Points
Beautiful deep crimson-ruby color. Complex nose of dark fruits, oak, soy, and cracked wheat, showing some fumey alcohol. A somewhat restrained Grange on the palate, lacking the stuffing to balance the hot alcohol. Bright fruit does emerge through the short finish, along with sticky tannins. Not flawed, just a disappointment, though fairly representative of the modern Grange style. 14.5% abv
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12/15/2015 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 94 Points
My first Grange. Blueberry, smoke, leather, sweet tannins. Velvety texture. Long finish. Lacking a bit in complexity but would have benefited from air, let alone bottle age. Quite a tour de force.
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11/21/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 99 Points
My first encounter with Grange. Drank to celebrate my son's promotion. Dark purple in color. Decanted and consumed over two hours. Wonderful complexity and balance made this very special! It had dark fruit, spice, smoke, black cherry, grilled meat, subtle black pepper but it was all so well integrated that nothing dominated or was over the top. Terrific juice. I can see why this is considered Australia's top Shiraz.
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11/20/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Oak, blueberry & raspberries, plum?, pepper. Palate coating with 60 second finish. Still somewhat tannic, but not over the top, well integrated. For my taste @ early peak. Best Aussie wine I've had. High viscosity. Cassis/blueberry, but not jammy. CRAZY depth. Will haunt my dreams. Aussie Shiraz can be done differently but not all that much better.
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4/22/2015 - Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 98 Points
Penfolds Grange & others (Extra Space): Aired in decanter for 1 hour before tasting.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purple colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of earth, smoky meat, dark black plums, blackberries, licorice. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol, very fine medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of earth, slight smoky meat, dark black plums, blackberries, licorice, spice. Very long finish. Deep, dark and brooding. Interestingly showing some hints of tertiary development. But tightness of the concentrated black fruit could still be loosened up more with further ageing.
Outstanding quality. This should be even more wonderful in 10 years' time.
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4/16/2015 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 93 Points
Penfolds Grange Wine Dinner at Botrini's (Botrini's Restaurant Athens): Much was anticipated from the '02, but the wine
seemed closed and only offered a promise for a future enjoyment.
Clearly a very good wine with velvety texture and concentration but
not in the mood that night...
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4/16/2015 - Yiannis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Penfolds Grange Wine Dinner at Botrini's (Botrini Restaurant, Athens, Greece): This was supposed to be one of the stars of the night but it proved otherwise. It was served alongside the theoretically inferior 2000, but the latter was much more enjoyable and open for busyness at this stage. Maybe the tightest of all the Granges served, and the one in need of longer cellaring. Still very powerful on the palate and with all the components that promise a bright future.
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12/6/2014 - mwanasheria Likes this wine: 97 Points
A very serious wine. Dark, brooding and initially quite forbidding. With some time in the glass it revealed layers of fruit, graphite, smoke, chocolate, thyme. Truly great.
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8/9/2014 - ChicagoScot Likes this wine: 97 Points
I picked up a case at Costco for $75 and cellared for a few years. I open a bottle every 12-14 months -- consuming this bottle with 4 couples who brought some excellent bottles. Hit it out of the park with rich smooth, but deep flavor and a perfect finish. The tannins are giving way to an elegant wine, but the fruit is still present.
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6/1/2014 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank it together with Thomas at home against 2006 Latour with Beef filet. Very Young Aromas of black berries, typical australian syrah chocolate note, vanilla, alittle bit oak, complex but dominated from thr fruit Phase, Tannins mighty, but soft you feel new World but it will last at least 15 more years. four hours of decantation, alcohol well integrated. Compared with the 1997 second winner but secondary and tertiar Aromas are missing to get his complete Beauty I guess 96-98points
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5/26/2014 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 94 Points
fantastic
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5/1/2014 - katharinekruk@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cellared seven years in our wine cellar and opened for my husband's birthday.
Still heady with noticeable tannins. Lively berries with smoke, licorice and floral notes.
Very good, but not the perception-altering revelation I was expecting for my first grange.
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3/22/2014 - Themarts wrote: 98 Points
Never had anything quite like this...smooth, spicy...like drinking a Christmas cake. I now understand all the fuss...
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3/2/2014 - Greg Munyard wrote: 93 Points
Drunk over lunch on a hot day after 3 hours decanting, this bottle was very "available", although still immature.
Has very smooth ripe tannins, slightly porty alcoholic overtones and voluminous blackcurrants (on the nose and palate), beautifully integrated with soy/black olive and complex dark fruits, woven in among very refined but obvious American oak characters. Spice characters are more subdued than last bottle in 2011 but that Grange flavour is at least as obvious.
Will never be as good as the legendary 1971 (as the 14.5% alcohol in the 02 significantly detracts, particularly on the palate) but this is a great Grange by modern standards of excessively alcoholic wines. What a dreadful shame that the wine-making has gone backwards with the excess alcohol. Oh for those classic Granges of the 50's, 60's and 70's...
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2/6/2014 - Giggs wrote: 95 Points
Bottle 10688. Decanted 1 hour. Judging by the nose, this was most open at 30 minutes, and then it started to close down; at 2 hours it was shut down completely...nothing but acid water. When at its best during the tasting it showed extreme quality and purity. The nose is concentrated but restrained, distant molasses notes, wild blackberry, elegant floral and spice character. More time in the glass adds even more spice, especially clove, cinnamon, and black pepper. The palate has the same high quality about it, polished, compact, firm acidity throughout the palate but particularly overbearing on the finish. This has tons of potential, obviously, but won't be at peak for 10-15 years. Drink 2022-2040.
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2/4/2014 - danielbleier wrote: 97 Points
consistent with notes of 1/12/2014 - served by the host of our dinner at Mikado.
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1/12/2014 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 97 Points
Just awesome. Bouquet of flower, blueberry, earth, and graphite. Flavors of blackberry, plum, coffee, licorice and mint are added when tasted. Light and graceful vs. expectations. Flavors go on and on. This should last for 20 more years.
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12/26/2013 - botrytisvirtuoso1819 wrote: 95 Points
bottle #04191
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10/9/2013 - KVM wrote: 91 Points
Grange tasting at Divino, Calgary; 10/8/2013-10/9/2013 (Divino Bistro, Calgary): Restrained. licorice. In the style of 1999. Excellent. Good depth of flavour with caramel seasoned fruit.
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7/29/2013 - King JR wrote: 95 Points
Took a while for it settle. Wonderful gorgeous fruit emerged once the heat of the alcohol settled down. Beautiful undertones of vanilla, spice and berries. An amazing wine. Probably still needs a few more years and would score even higher!
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7/2/2013 - Yagil wrote: 93 Points
dark red colour
intense mature dark fruits & spicy aroma
mixed flavours of dark berries, spices and eucalyptus.
quality & long finish.
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5/7/2013 - MyCellar01 Likes this wine:
Langton's Penfolds Masterclass with Andrew Caillard MW.
Much less of a dark heart than the '08. Less candied aromas than the '96, but a wonderful nose. Much black fruit for the palate, slight alcohol and very long. My fav was the '96, many chose the '02.
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12/21/2012 - Button Yang Likes this wine: 96 Points
The first vintage of Peter Gago, good job. Fragrant flowers and plums with liquorice and spices, still young. The body is huge, oak influence still obvious, but the acidity is sufficient. Top quality Barossa, to drink or to keep.
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3/9/2012 - clairenclarence wrote: 96 Points
veri classic.comples,elegance,well integrate,vibrant.it has almost everyting tat a serious wine drinker looking for.i wud hve gve another 2 to 3 pts more if it has a bordeaux taste palate
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2/6/2012 - DRob wrote:
Jammy black raspberry, rich and full of fruit. Very approachable now, which was a bit of a surprise. Was expecting it to be tighter and less forgiving at this age.
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12/1/2011 - Greg Munyard wrote: 93 Points
Drunk with a spaghetti marinara after being double decanted 5 hours earlier; a nice accompaniment.
Nose: On initial opening was distinctly vanillary, with weeping peppermint (as we have here in Australia) overtones bordering on menthol; with hints of camphor and lifted, very ripe plummy fruit. There was a nice hint of white spice and a musky incense character plus some tar and black olives as well. Anisette came to the fore later on.
Palate: Powerful and emphatic yet very, very smooth; “seamless and seductive” as my coffee roaster friend said. Flavours of dark plums and blackberry and a hint porty. I wasn't attracted to the porty hints but the well integrated oak was already adding that wonderful, distinctive Grange character. Is great to see that unique flavour starting to develop.
A top notch (albeit very ripe style) wine which already is very smooth, complex, emphatic and seductive all at the same time. My wife is completely unaffected by labels and just calls it as she sees it. She loved it, even at this very youthful stage. It will not peak until after 2020 at least but don't shy away from it now if you get the chance. I will mark it higher as it matures.
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7/14/2011 - bobpsi wrote: 94 Points
Did not disappoint. Big nose of black fruits with pepper and teryiaki notes. Big and smooth palete of black and blue fruits, vanilla and spice.
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6/5/2011 - last chance wrote: 98 Points
Blind Syrah Tasting w/ Ryan Johnson, Dick Boushey, Eric LeVine, and MrBigJ (Wild Ginger, Seattle, WA): Tasted blind. (Group's #2 (my #1)) – 6 first place votes, 1 second place vote, 4 third place votes, 1 fourth place vote – The nose was loaded with mint and chocolate aromas and also had some mineral notes. David mentioned a pickle barrel aroma that I hadn't noticed until he clued me in on it. The palate had flavors of mixed dark berries, spices and eucalyptus. I thought that this could be a Thackrey Orion again - but not even close... Once the tasting was over, I went back to get another pour of the Grange, and the minty/eucalyptus notes seemed to have a harder edge to them then they did while we were tasting this flight, but that could very well also be because of palate fatigue... The group was really divided on this flight - Even with 6 out of 12 first place votes, the Grange ended up finishing second in this flight overall...
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4/26/2011 - King JR wrote: 97 Points
This wine is a triumph. Absolutely smooth as silk, very long finish, beautiful nose filled with dark berried fruits and a hint of spice. A perfect blend. Readuy to drink now and appears it could last almost forever. Wish I had more of these. Wow !
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11/27/2010 - mwanasheria wrote: 96 Points
Lots of new oak, very tannic. Sweet fruit, cassis, raspberry, long.
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11/23/2010 - madia wrote: 95 Points
Great Syrahs and Shirazes (Wine Route Tel Aviv): Great nose – ripe fruits, chocolate. Very dense, chewy body, excellent acidity. This is really a great wine. (375$)
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11/5/2010 - Greg Munyard wrote: 93 Points
Bottle 88615 drunk 5 Nov 2010 at a restaurant lunch in Cairns, QLD, straight after decanting. Could not believe how well it drank in the circumstances.
Appearance: Deep and dark and with huge alcoholic legs that suggested a wine much less elegant than it turned out to be.
Nose: Lovely intense rich, ripe (but not porty) sweet blackberry fruit with old leather characters and camphory oak, with vanilla particularly apparent on the cork. Typical Grange but white pepper whiff surprised me a bit. Very enticing.
Palate: Surprisingly elegant and approachable for an 8 year old Grange (I normally recommend not drinking within 15 years of vintage). Refined and smooth, warm and ripe, with nicely rounded shoulders yet a hint of green on the finish which tightened it up nicely. Delicate white pepper (over black olives) added to the impression of a classy although rich, ripe luscious style. Lovely sweet vanilla added to a very complex palate. Beautifully balanced and much more refined than its 14.5% alcohol implies. Oak is obviously American but is beautifully integrated and without the chalky graininess that one sometimes sees.
A superb wine, worthy of its lofty reputation. I expect to mark it even higher as it matures.
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10/18/2010 - King JR wrote: 96 Points
Unbelievably smooth with a beautiful nose - right amount of oak and a hint of vanilla - this is a truly awesome wine, and seems ready to go. Beautiful fruit, followed by a strong mid-palate and super silky smooth tannins. Definitely worth the price tag!
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10/13/2010 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #051; TOP Australia. (by EvA): Beautiful bouquet with black fruits and spices. On the palate very juicy black berries and chocolate. Very soft, but not showing itself completely yet. Wait for about 5 years and it will even be better. 95+
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10/4/2010 - subtlet Likes this wine: 92 Points
2010 Penfolds Tasting (Liner and Elsen, Portland OR): The nose here reminds me of a full dinner showing a pot roast with vegetables, some blackberry pie with a nice crust, and even an after-dinner mint making a light contribution. It starts out with a soft feel and a slow evolution of flavor that's already beginning to show a big of aged character on the apple and blackberry fruit. Apple peels show later on the palate, and the tannins remain full and balanced all the way through. The acidity is balanced. Way out on the finish, I get some red cherry flavors too.
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10/4/2010 - MBannon wrote: 96 Points
Huge, port-like aroma. Very big, yet elegant. Excellent excellent wine (yes, double excellent). From magnum.
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10/4/2010 - RPerro wrote: 98 Points
Penfolds Tasting Seminar (Liner & Elsen Wine Merchants, Portland, OR): Wine #9. From magnum. 98.5% Shiraz, 1.5% Cab in the blend. Huge nose of black fruit pepper and vanilla. Such an immense wine, and so damn good! Fruit for days...blackberry, sweet with oaky vanilla. Still just a baby, especially from magnum.
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4/10/2010 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 90 Points
Penfolds Grange among Australias greatest (Heemstede - Rest. Southern Cross): 2002 Penfolds Grange (Australië, South Australië) Kleur: Diep donkerrood Aroma / bouquet: Gesloten neus, inkt-achtig Smaak / Afdronk: Subtieler stijl, zacht zuur, supergeconcentreerd, veel finesse, super zacht maar krachtig. Algemeen / potentieel: 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 9 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 90/100
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10/22/2009 - astroman wrote:
WFA 2009 Grange Vertical Tasting: Kinda of frunky like nose, acrylic. Seemly advanced as compare to the earlier ones. Nail polish with seemly hollow aromas. Very modern palate with thick tannins rather shut but some orangery, violet taste. Good lingering finish but coating thick fine tannins. Needs more age before drinkable.
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6/7/2009 - Brugy wrote: 97 Points
Bottle No. 04911, Color - Dark, dark black/red. Nose - Peppered, currant, candied cherry. Flavor - Raseberry, Oak, toasted nutmeg or wood. Balanced flavors across the whole pallet. The aftertaste was explosive and everlasting. Great mouth feel with creamy textured aftertaste. Complemented salmon with a shrimp and crab alexander sauce.
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12/7/2008 - greekwineaux wrote: 94 Points
Weekend in Cambria-Moonstone lunch after Experience tour at Hearst Castle. Courtesy of the Reno brothers. This was great right out of the bottle. Wonderful black fruit, slight coffee, with the acidity in check. Milked it for about 45 minutes, and again, the best was the last drop.
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11/8/2008 - BDoolin wrote:
No rating. Purchased upon release......properly cellared. Decanted 4 hours prior to dinner. Limited aromatics, beautiful garnet color in the glass. Completely closed and unyielding. Opening this now was simply foolish. I'll try again in 2018.
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5/26/2008 - bubbachumps wrote: 96 Points
This time much more open wine. Popped and poured, on the nose a mixture of intense dark red and black fruits, fresh blueberries and leather. Silky mooth texture in the mouth, strong blueberries and a touch of menthol. I'm amazed at how much this has opened since I last had in October '07. I could drink this wine all night long. Amazing wine!
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4/28/2008 - peblin wrote:
Very concentrated in all aspects. Almost black in color. Elegant, high acidity, aftertaste to die for (at least, it stayed until the morning after - and yes, I do brush my teeth even after a Grange). Spicy notes mixed with blackcurrant and tobacco. A bit closed, this was definitely too young but still a great wine experience.
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4/16/2008 - LPskeleton wrote: 97 Points
Aromatics of mint, lavender, andes candies, menthol, eucalyptus, white pepper and flowers..just stunning...one of the most perfumed wines I have had. Very pure integration with gorgeous natural acid and tannin..this is australian? ;)...I love this, its so well structured around beautiful cherry flavors, pepper, flowers and mint chocolate..long peppery floral finish. The floral element of this is mind blowing!
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3/29/2008 - Michael wrote: 84 Points
Pebble Beach Food & Wine Rare Wine Dinner. High alchohol. port like intensity. limited finesse. Doesn't match my memories of Grange. Last had at the Wine Spectator Tasting a few years back where the 1998 was incredible. Disappointing. Maybe in another 10 years it will be different but right now it was not interesting.
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1/24/2008 - winefool wrote: 95 Points
Wineflock - Australian Cabernets (My House): Group #1, My #1 (ringer) - Opaque deep black/red color. Medium full young nose of black fruit, coffee, and some black spice with more complexity and some cassis notes emerging with air. Incredible richness and energy on the palate - lovely black fruit, cola, and spice with coffee notes on the lingering finish. I was looking forward to opening this given the comparisons to 98 and how well that wine showed young. In this case, the quality and stuffing are there, but it is more traditional in terms of really needing probably at least 10 years to show its stuff. Tuck this one away in back... 95+ pts.
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1/24/2008 - salil wrote: 94 Points
A baby, but amazing even this young. Inky reddish-black in colour with an intense but very primary nose showing blackberries, plums, blueberries and some coffee. Similar flavours on the palate - incredibly pure, concentrated red and dark fruits and some coffee notes over smooth tannins with a long finish. Wow. My first experience with Grange - thanks a lot Chris! (Group #1, my #2)
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10/11/2007 - bubbachumps wrote: 96 Points
Penfolds Tasting - St Regis: Grange Vertical tasting (82, 86, 90, 94, 95, 99, 00, 01 & 02). Worked my way from the 82 to the 02 with sniffing and drinking. Then when back through all the wines.
Tight and beautiful on the nose, alluding to so much promise. An infant as you can imagine. This is a complete wine, got a menthol note and a mixture of intense dark red and black fruits. So tight but seriously endowed fruit. I believe this wine is a legend in the making. Tied for 2nd place (behind 86 and 90) for Grange WOTN. 96.
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5/19/2007 - jamieirving wrote: 93 Points
Penfolds 1990 – Grange and Other Icons (Peter Gago) (Landmark Hotel, London): Released on the 1st of May, just a couple of weeks before the tasting, this wine was substituted for the 1990 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon which has gone missing in transit.
Made from 99% Shiraz and 1% Cabernet sourced from the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, this Grange was aged in 100% new American oak for 15 months. Still fairly impenetrable this Grange is showing early signs of being deep, dark, dense, but well integrated. The nose displays primary fruit and wood. The palate shows balance and poise with violets and a build-up of oak and tannin.
Interestingly, during tasting this wine, Peter Gago regaled the audience with a short talk about the “worst Grange vintages” which, in his opinion, are the 1974, 1984 and 1992. Although, he went on to say that even the “worst” Grange is still a very good wine!
Tasted at the “Penfolds 1990 – Grange and Other Icons” session hosted by Peter Gago at the Decanter New World Fine Wine Encounter, Landmark Hotel, London on the 19th of May 2007
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