Four decades of Penfolds Grange (Chicago, IL): Really suffered in the context of the 1990 and 1989. This, like the 1995 drank like a mature example of Grange, which ticked all the technical boxes but lacked overall excitement. Shows less fruit, and also more mature and earthy, and maybe even just a little bit dried out.
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Smoked meats with Jason: Opened only a couple hours before but probably needed more time. The vanilla and coconut notes dominated and the wine felt unready and unintegrated which is something crazy to say for a 35 year old wine. Dense, rich fruit that felt a little jammy. Got better after a few hours in the decanter.
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Excellent wine. Still could go another 10-20 years. 4 hour decant. Still powerful. Chocolate, leather, vanilla, some fruit. Big and bold. If not for price I would chase down more.
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Dense, dark core still with just a touch of bricking at the edges. These 80 Granges really do evolve glacially. First impression on the nose is a hit of American oak, then maybe a touch of black pepper and cherry. On the palate tannins fully resolved and drinking very well. Not getting any hotness or stewed fruits mentioned in some other notes. I'm sure it will keep, but fully developed and ready to go for my tastes.
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This was ok, but had a burnt charcoal quality to it, a bit stewed and dark ash kind of thing. Not as structured as the '89 or '04. Interesting, but probably needs charred BBQ ribs to go with! Not the best of shape. At the Langham Hotel Terrace restaurant with Yarom and the gang.
Double decanted for 3 hrs. Was fairly tight and opened up over the next few hours. lovely nose, surprisingly firm tannins, plenty of fruit on the front that follows all the way into a long and full finish. Great bottle of wine from a mediocre yr for Penfolds. The wine is fully developed, but has plenty left in the tank to hold for several years.
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Magnificent despite probably being several years past it’s peak. Still overpriced but the reason the demand is so high is due to this being the worthy benchmark for all Aussie Shiraz to aspire to. Supremely complex
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Penfolds Grange dinner with Stephanie Dutton (The Musket Room in NYC): First of the wines where I got just a hint of greenness to it. But not in a bad way. In fact, I am someone who doesn't mind and kindof likes a touch of that in their wine. Similar to the '89 there's also a nice tartness here. A bit less sweet. Very well balanced. It's a tasty wine.
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drank with the 87, liked this one better, it still has power and everything else, probably would age a bit more but no need to wait, very good now and gave it a rare 95 rating. It was voted WOTN too, amongst SQN, da capo etc.
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From an owc. Fresh and vibrant with cedar, herbs, dark fruit and spice. Lots of acidity on the palate with depth. Still a long way before hitting its absolute peak.
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I've been holding onto this bottle for 20 years and it was great to finally pop it open. Very open and flamboyant nose, with bright red fruits, pepper, black licorice and vanilla. Deep, rich and expansive on the palate with fine, well-resolved tannins. A little surprised at still how primary it was. A well stored bottle like this can easily cellar for more years. This was great with a dry-aged rib-eye steak.
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Great from the bottle but really sang after 4 hours in the decanter. A wonderfully expressive nose, mixed spice, hints of coffee and vanilla, dark fruits - I spent 20 minutes just swirling and breathing in my last sip. And it's pretty much as good on the palate, with a gloriously long finish that decays ever so slowly...
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NobleRottersSydney - Penfolds at 10 20 30 years (360 Bar & Dining, Sydney): {cork, 13.5%} [Graeme] Double-decanted four hours earlier. Aged spice and leather. Very seductive, intense but gentle, with sweetly rotting fruit overtones. The palate has a touch of malt, coffee, along with classically rich and spicy south Australian shiraz fruit squarely in the Grange mould; violets, flowers, strawberries. This has a hint of dry brittleness on the palate, true, but it still has medium powdery tannins and medium-full weight, with a medium-long finish. Beautifully mature and probably not worth keeping too much longer.
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Decanted 45 mins. Incredible nose of ripe blackberries, violets and cinnamon. Palate is full of blackberries flavours with light acid and very fine, ripe tannins. A wonderful wine - probably now on a downward trajectory (it lacks a little persistence on the palate) but still very good. Drink now.
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Pristine bottle, level into neck, decanted for two hours. A blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Cabernet-Sauvignon. Rich robe, warm bricky red, mature but lively appearance, youthful for age; very impressive and complex nose, overripe red berries, beef stock, black olive, black pepper, deep and mineral, hint of aniseed, herbs, rich but retains a wonderful freshness after 27 years; the palate is fresh and linear, with potent but finely grained, velvety tannins, blackcurrants and liquorice, eucalyptus, displays a more transparent and lighter style than the greatest vintages, but the energy, harmony and drive are still very impressive; excellent length, new oak and black pepper, the lighter flavour profile and dried fruit on the finish indicating maturity. No real hurry but no reason to wait either.
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Tasted alongside the 1988 Henschke Hill of Grace. Darker in colour with more sweetness on the nose in comparison. Lots of ripe fruit but also depth, meaty notes, savoury spices. On the palate much more grip, juicy, bright acidity, slightly mineral and spicy. Lovely length. Much more youthful than the Hill of Grace, but also less elegant and smooth and a little rustic in comparison. No rush to drink this at all. 93-95
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No formal notes. Probably the best wine I have had. Left me with a smile and completely buzzing. Massive concentration, enormous complexity, still delicate, nuanced, never ending. Perfect structure, everything is in harmony. Beautiful wine.
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A marvelous wine at a marvelous stage. The nose is Suave, full, yet not heavy, it reminds me of a deep sound of a majestic orchestra. Beautiful dark berries at a stage of mingling with eucalyptus, leather, wet earth and waves and waves of matching texture filling up the palate. Still quite youthful and in no way I could have guessed it as being 25 years of age. From the nose and on the palate, it reminded me of some of the best right bank Bordeaux(Pomerol). Despite the thickness it had a marvelous balance, and held on to its dignity through the whole meal. A tremendous bottle at a great drinking stage.
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double decant 4 hrs prior to drinking. Vanilla oak prominent on the nose. Barossa fruit evident on the front palate. Well balanced, long finish. Surprisingly youthful. Given the mediocre vintage the wine shines. Plenty of life left. Will develop further. Try again in 3-5 yrs.
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I've had this in the cellar since release and never had the wine. It's pretty much what I expected. All of the american vanilla oak on the nose, but the palate was delicious. Spice, cherry fruit. Very nice depth and length. Very well balanced and quite 'young' considering it's age. I'll keep my next bottle in the cellar for many more years.
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Rich aromatically dense and showy featuring sweet black cherry, roasted vanilla, and brown sugar. Lusciously ripe in the mouth with dried red berries, brown spice, in softly textured style. Seems 10 yrs younger then I would have guessed. Classic Grange showing wonderful balance with the best of American oak and red fruit pie filling quality. Nice concentration, yet seems mellower than younger vintages. Well balanced and nice finish, although perhaps a tad quicker finish. In very nice place and see a good 10 years left. No rush to drink up, but likely in prime now.
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The only wine which was possibly faulty, sensitive noses picked up some cork taint, but the wine held together extremely well all night. It lacked the smoothness and finesse of the 1985 and the power of the 1986, but on its own is still an impressive wine. Drink now-2050.
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NobleRottersSydney - Grange night (Verde, East Sydney): {cork, 13.5%} (Graeme) Following the 89, this seemed much darker, more serious. Meat/malt and iodine. Remain darkly dense on the palate, with fruit all in the black grape spectrum. Medium/full-bodied, with fine dusty tannins, medium acid and a long even finish. Less overt than the 89, and probably a bit less enjoyable now, but has a longer future. Ought to age another ten years easily on this showing. Classy wine. Barossa, McLaren Vale & Padthaway. 6% cabernet.
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This is amazing wine ! Colour is very young. Dark fruits, chocolate, spice and coconuts. Very long sweet hedonistic finish. Wow! It would keep its qualities for another 25 years.
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deep dark full look and nose. lots of dark fruits and freshness, well balanced with a touch of meatiness to it. very youthful. went down quite quickly at the table. very good bottle
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Massive sweet nose of violets and kirsch with highlights of worn saddle, sweat and sage. Dry palate with bold fruit for a wine of this age. Red current and cherry fruit notes start out a touch tart but merry well with Darjeeling and Christmas spice flavors. Leather and spice give a masculine feel to this fantastic silky, fresh wine. The tannins are definitely in retreat but they still offer enough grip to stand up to a decent piece of meat. The red fruits really transform in the mouth and become sweeter on the lengthy finish. This is really drinking well now. I think its in the zone now and should hold here over the next 5 years or so. Outstanding Quality. 93+ pts.
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Pretty, deep ruby color. Lovely Grange oak: smooth, sweet, tawny, toasty. Eucalyptus and oak are largely hiding the fruit right now, but cherry and tobacco were there in passing. A little heat, juicy acidic finish. This drank quite nicely if a bit muted. I was the only one that thought I detected very faint TCA.
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At BLT Steak(Southbeach) w Roberta & David Ehrenreich. David's wine. Decanted for 2 hrs at room temp. Terrace dining on Ocean Drive drank alongside my 98 Guial Ampuis. Served at 78F vs 72 for my Cave chilled Ampuis. Fortunately David did not over decant, as I had my 89 Grange several ywears ago, when it had showed brilliantly for a moment, and then quickly faded into obscurity. The Continent and terroir differences for these two outstanding wines was dramatic. The scent of Provence vs the silky smooth Barossa Syrah dominant Grange. More finesse and restraint than the typical high alcohol Barossa top of the line Shiraz ie Astralis, Run Rig, etc. Strawberry rhubarb scent, a good tactile sense, and an extended finish.
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Deep ruby in colour with a brown rim. The 1988 Grange displays layers of black and red fruit like blackberry, plum and cranberry followed by mint and pepper, graphite and leather, vanilla and sweet spices. Deep and tight, this one is still full of fruit after 23 years of age. Tasted this over a couple of hours at dinner and the wine has not lost any of its focus but evolved in time contrarily. Such a long and amazing finish.
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The bottle was stored in wine fridge at 14c, decanted for an hour before drinking, served late afternoon with a selection of cheese. A medium crimson colour, surprisingly soft on the palate, a rich fruit flavour very elegant, this wine would have been over powered if consumed with a meal, there were almost no tannins whatsoever. This bottle was right in its drinking window.
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Wine at RN74 in SF (Chave, Clape, Dauvissat, Meo, Grange, more); 9/21/2009-9/24/2009: A small taste courtesy of Sommelier Eric Railsback at RN74. Deep red color. Exuberant nose featuring an enticing but ultimately simplistic combination of ripe blueberry fruit and mineral/iron. On the palate this has excellent flavor intensity and great balance. A little one-dimensional and compact on the palate, but what's there is really nice. Tannins are fully resolved, and the finish is satisfying. I found this to be a very nice, well-aged version of Penfolds Grange that was fun to taste against the four young Northern Rhones.
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NobleRottersSydney - Penfolds &/or 1988 (Alio's, Surry Hills): {cork, 13.5%} Still ruby red. Not a hint of garnet red anywhere. The developing nose is stamped with that unmistakable Grange character; the liqueur-shiraz aromas, vanillan oak, spice, leather. Rich and refined, never raucous. The palate presents well integrated acidity, medium-high chalky tannins, nearly full body, with lavish ripe sweet fruit, subsumed oak and a long balanced finish. It’s a hefty wine, but all within itself, and makes the preceding Bin 389 look rather coarse. Not an especially acclaimed vintage, nor reviled either; I can see this still improving for years to come. A bit of a sleeper. I can’t imagine anyone tasting this and not being impressed. Wonderful wine.
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Suckling Pig Dinner @ St John Dark black wine. spicy blackberries on the nose and in the mouth. it was amazing how young the aussie wines were tasting compared to the rhones.full mouthed, very long syrupy finish this wine will continue to go foor some time
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Purple, a bit murky (I got a late pour and some fine sediment was sloshing around by then). Once it settled: red currents, noticable VA here but not annoying. A bit less driven than other wines in the flight; again, that aroma of cannuba wax. In the mouth, the fruits are starting to receed and acidity seems a bit more up front. Got a hint of mushrooms on the back of the palate. Time to drink this one up.
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NobleRottersSydney - Oz wines mid-80s (Lucio's, Paddington): {cork, 13.5%} Still red-black after all these years. Dark aromas – blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, tar and iodine, underlying chocolate/vanilla oak, but the nose is very integrated and compact. The palate has all this and more – zippy acid, fine yet soft tannins which do build after a while; a full bodied wine that’s not too overpowering. Still very young – in truth at this stage the nose is more rewarding than the palate – the wine hasn’t quite come together yet (it sounds ridiculous I know). There’s a long way to go before much in the way of secondary development will be apparent – I wouldn’t drink any more of this for another 5 years, and then only to confirm that it will be better in 10… Very good, obviously, but yet to reach its potential.
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Still dark and highly concentrated with firm tannins. This is a wonderful wine with aromas of clove and fruit, followed by jammy blackberry on the palate. It can still use years in the bottle, but opened up nicely after a couple of hours. 5/01 Shiraz shootout - Group #4 - Full red crimson (showing a bit of age). Subdued dustry aromas with clean acidity. Huge mouthful of baclk cherry fruit on a sturdy tannic frame. Nice long finish. This is starting to drink but could still use 5 years. 12/04
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NobleRottersSydney - 1990 & prior (Darling Mills, Glebe): Still a deep black red. A kind of molten, inky, blackberry nose. Closed and astringent on the palate. The tannins are very powerful and the fruit is not easy to detect. I seemed to be one of the few at the table to be a little disappointed with this wine. The fruit seemed buried, and the finish wasn't long or rich as I expected. I wondered if it was ever-so-slightly corked, until I realised that it followed into the glass a wine that was corked (but risned) Maybe someting remained? At any rate, disappointing, but perhaps not typical.
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9/28/2023 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Four decades of Penfolds Grange (Chicago, IL): Really suffered in the context of the 1990 and 1989. This, like the 1995 drank like a mature example of Grange, which ticked all the technical boxes but lacked overall excitement. Shows less fruit, and also more mature and earthy, and maybe even just a little bit dried out.
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6/24/2023 - MK103 wrote: 95 Points
Minimum of 4 hour decant.
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6/2/2023 - hadlieh2 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Opened 2 hours before. Poured 1/2 hour before drinking. Smooth, tasted like old cab without the old noise funk.vanilla oak dark berry. Lovely.
Served w salmon w ginger rice.
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4/29/2023 - melvinyeowq wrote: 90 Points
Smoked meats with Jason: Opened only a couple hours before but probably needed more time. The vanilla and coconut notes dominated and the wine felt unready and unintegrated which is something crazy to say for a 35 year old wine. Dense, rich fruit that felt a little jammy. Got better after a few hours in the decanter.
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1/1/2022 - Disgustaeer Likes this wine: 99 Points
Excellent wine. Still could go another 10-20 years. 4 hour decant. Still powerful. Chocolate, leather, vanilla, some fruit. Big and bold. If not for price I would chase down more.
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9/2/2021 - GGLT Likes this wine:
Brilliant! Needs a 4 to 5 hour decanting. I decanted for 4 and then poured the wine and left for another hour. Worth the wait.
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2/6/2021 - SimonPh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent condition, rich chocolate and leather on the nose, fills the mouth and long finish.
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12/25/2020 - smatteo wrote: 92 Points
Dense, dark core still with just a touch of bricking at the edges. These 80 Granges really do evolve glacially. First impression on the nose is a hit of American oak, then maybe a touch of black pepper and cherry. On the palate tannins fully resolved and drinking very well. Not getting any hotness or stewed fruits mentioned in some other notes. I'm sure it will keep, but fully developed and ready to go for my tastes.
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9/24/2020 - peternelson Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was ok, but had a burnt charcoal quality to it, a bit stewed and dark ash kind of thing. Not as structured as the '89 or '04. Interesting, but probably needs charred BBQ ribs to go with! Not the best of shape. At the Langham Hotel Terrace restaurant with Yarom and the gang.
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7/14/2020 - salua wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted for 3 hrs. Was fairly tight and opened up over the next few hours. lovely nose, surprisingly firm tannins, plenty of fruit on the front that follows all the way into a long and full finish. Great bottle of wine from a mediocre yr for Penfolds. The wine is fully developed, but has plenty left in the tank to hold for several years.
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10/20/2019 - Bendor Likes this wine: 95 Points
Magnificent despite probably being several years past it’s peak. Still overpriced but the reason the demand is so high is due to this being the worthy benchmark for all Aussie Shiraz to aspire to. Supremely complex
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4/30/2019 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Penfolds Grange dinner with Stephanie Dutton (The Musket Room in NYC): First of the wines where I got just a hint of greenness to it. But not in a bad way. In fact, I am someone who doesn't mind and kindof likes a touch of that in their wine. Similar to the '89 there's also a nice tartness here. A bit less sweet. Very well balanced. It's a tasty wine.
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1/20/2019 - danielk168 Likes this wine: 95 Points
drank with the 87, liked this one better, it still has power and everything else, probably would age a bit more but no need to wait, very good now and gave it a rare 95 rating. It was voted WOTN too, amongst SQN, da capo etc.
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1/20/2019 - Burgnick wrote: 93 Points
From an owc. Fresh and vibrant with cedar, herbs, dark fruit and spice. Lots of acidity on the palate with depth. Still a long way before hitting its absolute peak.
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1/3/2019 - mdefreitas wrote: 95 Points
I've been holding onto this bottle for 20 years and it was great to finally pop it open. Very open and flamboyant nose, with bright red fruits, pepper, black licorice and vanilla. Deep, rich and expansive on the palate with fine, well-resolved tannins. A little surprised at still how primary it was. A well stored bottle like this can easily cellar for more years. This was great with a dry-aged rib-eye steak.
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10/26/2018 - empire80 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great from the bottle but really sang after 4 hours in the decanter. A wonderfully expressive nose, mixed spice, hints of coffee and vanilla, dark fruits - I spent 20 minutes just swirling and breathing in my last sip. And it's pretty much as good on the palate, with a gloriously long finish that decays ever so slowly...
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9/28/2018 - melbwinediary wrote: 95 Points
Definitely worth drinking now. Fine tannin structure, velvet, cherries. Paired with game meats.
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2/5/2018 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Penfolds at 10 20 30 years (360 Bar & Dining, Sydney): {cork, 13.5%} [Graeme] Double-decanted four hours earlier. Aged spice and leather. Very seductive, intense but gentle, with sweetly rotting fruit overtones. The palate has a touch of malt, coffee, along with classically rich and spicy south Australian shiraz fruit squarely in the Grange mould; violets, flowers, strawberries. This has a hint of dry brittleness on the palate, true, but it still has medium powdery tannins and medium-full weight, with a medium-long finish. Beautifully mature and probably not worth keeping too much longer.
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7/27/2017 - GNBB wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 45 mins. Incredible nose of ripe blackberries, violets and cinnamon. Palate is full of blackberries flavours with light acid and very fine, ripe tannins. A wonderful wine - probably now on a downward trajectory (it lacks a little persistence on the palate) but still very good. Drink now.
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2/16/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 95 Points
Pristine bottle, level into neck, decanted for two hours. A blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Cabernet-Sauvignon. Rich robe, warm bricky red, mature but lively appearance, youthful for age; very impressive and complex nose, overripe red berries, beef stock, black olive, black pepper, deep and mineral, hint of aniseed, herbs, rich but retains a wonderful freshness after 27 years; the palate is fresh and linear, with potent but finely grained, velvety tannins, blackcurrants and liquorice, eucalyptus, displays a more transparent and lighter style than the greatest vintages, but the energy, harmony and drive are still very impressive; excellent length, new oak and black pepper, the lighter flavour profile and dried fruit on the finish indicating maturity. No real hurry but no reason to wait either.
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12/12/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Tasted alongside the 1988 Henschke Hill of Grace. Darker in colour with more sweetness on the nose in comparison. Lots of ripe fruit but also depth, meaty notes, savoury spices. On the palate much more grip, juicy, bright acidity, slightly mineral and spicy. Lovely length. Much more youthful than the Hill of Grace, but also less elegant and smooth and a little rustic in comparison. No rush to drink this at all. 93-95
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11/9/2014 - PT insurgent wrote:
No formal notes.
Probably the best wine I have had. Left me with a smile and completely buzzing.
Massive concentration, enormous complexity, still delicate, nuanced, never ending. Perfect structure, everything is in harmony. Beautiful wine.
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11/6/2014 - swyang wrote:
A marvelous wine at a marvelous stage. The nose is Suave, full, yet not heavy, it reminds me of a deep sound of a majestic orchestra. Beautiful dark berries at a stage of mingling with eucalyptus, leather, wet earth and waves and waves of matching texture filling up the palate. Still quite youthful and in no way I could have guessed it as being 25 years of age. From the nose and on the palate, it reminded me of some of the best right bank Bordeaux(Pomerol). Despite the thickness it had a marvelous balance, and held on to its dignity through the whole meal. A tremendous bottle at a great drinking stage.
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8/15/2014 - salua wrote: 94 Points
double decant 4 hrs prior to drinking. Vanilla oak prominent on the nose. Barossa fruit evident on the front palate. Well balanced, long finish. Surprisingly youthful. Given the mediocre vintage the wine shines. Plenty of life left. Will develop further. Try again in 3-5 yrs.
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6/14/2014 - rnellans wrote: 94 Points
I've had this in the cellar since release and never had the wine. It's pretty much what I expected. All of the american vanilla oak on the nose, but the palate was delicious. Spice, cherry fruit. Very nice depth and length. Very well balanced and quite 'young' considering it's age. I'll keep my next bottle in the cellar for many more years.
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4/16/2014 - jinks Likes this wine: 96 Points
tasted blind. I thought this was an older Bordeaux. Funky at first, then opened up and was just crazy good. outstanding.
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4/7/2014 - KenK Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rich aromatically dense and showy featuring sweet black cherry, roasted vanilla, and brown sugar. Lusciously ripe in the mouth with dried red berries, brown spice, in softly textured style. Seems 10 yrs younger then I would have guessed. Classic Grange showing wonderful balance with the best of American oak and red fruit pie filling quality. Nice concentration, yet seems mellower than younger vintages. Well balanced and nice finish, although perhaps a tad quicker finish. In very nice place and see a good 10 years left. No rush to drink up, but likely in prime now.
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1/25/2014 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 92 Points
The only wine which was possibly faulty, sensitive noses picked up some cork taint, but the wine held together extremely well all night. It lacked the smoothness and finesse of the 1985 and the power of the 1986, but on its own is still an impressive wine. Drink now-2050.
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11/4/2013 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Grange night (Verde, East Sydney): {cork, 13.5%} (Graeme) Following the 89, this seemed much darker, more serious. Meat/malt and iodine. Remain darkly dense on the palate, with fruit all in the black grape spectrum. Medium/full-bodied, with fine dusty tannins, medium acid and a long even finish. Less overt than the 89, and probably a bit less enjoyable now, but has a longer future. Ought to age another ten years easily on this showing. Classy wine. Barossa, McLaren Vale & Padthaway. 6% cabernet.
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4/1/2013 - Thracian Alvarinho Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is amazing wine ! Colour is very young. Dark fruits, chocolate, spice and coconuts. Very long sweet hedonistic finish. Wow! It would keep its qualities for another 25 years.
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3/23/2013 - Tuvan wrote: 95 Points
Rich and still youngish
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6/18/2012 - CamWheeler wrote: 93 Points
Nose of vanilla, cherry, chocolate and pepper. Very youthful palate with exceptional length and balance. Another 10-15 years should be possible here.
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6/5/2012 - reichken wrote: 93 Points
deep dark full look and nose. lots of dark fruits and freshness, well balanced with a touch of meatiness to it. very youthful. went down quite quickly at the table. very good bottle
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4/14/2012 - Wazza Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very good - as you would expect, plenty of legs and will go on.
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1/21/2012 - jjwala wrote: 95 Points
outstanding. can still be kept. long finish
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11/4/2011 - dre wrote: 93 Points
Massive sweet nose of violets and kirsch with highlights of worn saddle, sweat and sage.
Dry palate with bold fruit for a wine of this age. Red current and cherry fruit notes start out a touch tart but merry well with Darjeeling and Christmas spice flavors. Leather and spice give a masculine feel to this fantastic silky, fresh wine. The tannins are definitely in retreat but they still offer enough grip to stand up to a decent piece of meat. The red fruits really transform in the mouth and become sweeter on the lengthy finish.
This is really drinking well now. I think its in the zone now and should hold here over the next 5 years or so.
Outstanding Quality. 93+ pts.
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7/23/2011 - petitblanc wrote: 91 Points
Pretty, deep ruby color. Lovely Grange oak: smooth, sweet, tawny, toasty. Eucalyptus and oak are largely hiding the fruit right now, but cherry and tobacco were there in passing. A little heat, juicy acidic finish. This drank quite nicely if a bit muted. I was the only one that thought I detected very faint TCA.
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4/9/2011 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 95 Points
At BLT Steak(Southbeach) w Roberta & David Ehrenreich. David's wine. Decanted for 2 hrs at room temp. Terrace dining on Ocean Drive drank alongside my 98 Guial Ampuis. Served at 78F vs 72 for my Cave chilled Ampuis. Fortunately David did not over decant, as I had my 89 Grange several ywears ago, when it had showed brilliantly for a moment, and then quickly faded into obscurity. The Continent and terroir differences for these two outstanding wines was dramatic. The scent of Provence vs the silky smooth Barossa Syrah dominant Grange.
More finesse and restraint than the typical high alcohol Barossa top of the line Shiraz ie Astralis, Run Rig, etc. Strawberry rhubarb scent, a good tactile sense, and an extended finish.
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3/19/2011 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 96 Points
Deep ruby in colour with a brown rim. The 1988 Grange displays layers of black and red fruit like blackberry, plum and cranberry followed by mint and pepper, graphite and leather, vanilla and sweet spices. Deep and tight, this one is still full of fruit after 23 years of age. Tasted this over a couple of hours at dinner and the wine has not lost any of its focus but evolved in time contrarily. Such a long and amazing finish.
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2/16/2011 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
IWFS Govs lunch - this was drinking beautifully. Wonderful spicy minty eucalyptus nose and good freshness and black fruit on the palate.
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2/16/2011 - jlgnml wrote: 96 Points
IWFSC Board of Governors Luncheon (Custom House Tavern, Chicago, IL): This was great, wonderful nose, great lavor, depth on the palate, very dark, long lasting.
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10/10/2010 - PGJ1956 wrote: 96 Points
Incredibly smooth, almost sweet, no acid or edge, consumed after food with cheese.
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5/22/2010 - Pelly Cellar wrote: 98 Points
Wow-- spec-freaking-tacular. Really, just incredible.
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11/2/2009 - PGJ1956 wrote: 92 Points
The bottle was stored in wine fridge at 14c, decanted for an hour before drinking, served late afternoon with a selection of cheese. A medium crimson colour, surprisingly soft on the palate, a rich fruit flavour very elegant, this wine would have been over powered if consumed with a meal, there were almost no tannins whatsoever. This bottle was right in its drinking window.
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9/24/2009 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 91 Points
Wine at RN74 in SF (Chave, Clape, Dauvissat, Meo, Grange, more); 9/21/2009-9/24/2009: A small taste courtesy of Sommelier Eric Railsback at RN74. Deep red color. Exuberant nose featuring an enticing but ultimately simplistic combination of ripe blueberry fruit and mineral/iron. On the palate this has excellent flavor intensity and great balance. A little one-dimensional and compact on the palate, but what's there is really nice. Tannins are fully resolved, and the finish is satisfying. I found this to be a very nice, well-aged version of Penfolds Grange that was fun to taste against the four young Northern Rhones.
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9/12/2009 - DAN BAILEY wrote:
Super sweet, jammy and very showy wine. Not really my cup of tea.
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3/3/2008 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Penfolds &/or 1988 (Alio's, Surry Hills): {cork, 13.5%} Still ruby red. Not a hint of garnet red anywhere. The developing nose is stamped with that unmistakable Grange character; the liqueur-shiraz aromas, vanillan oak, spice, leather. Rich and refined, never raucous. The palate presents well integrated acidity, medium-high chalky tannins, nearly full body, with lavish ripe sweet fruit, subsumed oak and a long balanced finish. It’s a hefty wine, but all within itself, and makes the preceding Bin 389 look rather coarse. Not an especially acclaimed vintage, nor reviled either; I can see this still improving for years to come. A bit of a sleeper. I can’t imagine anyone tasting this and not being impressed. Wonderful wine.
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11/5/2007 - reichken wrote: 90 Points
Suckling Pig Dinner @ St John
Dark black wine. spicy blackberries on the nose and in the mouth. it was amazing how young the aussie wines were tasting compared to the rhones.full mouthed, very long syrupy finish
this wine will continue to go foor some time
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2/13/2007 - KPB wrote: 91 Points
Purple, a bit murky (I got a late pour and some fine sediment was sloshing around by then). Once it settled: red currents, noticable VA here but not annoying. A bit less driven than other wines in the flight; again, that aroma of cannuba wax. In the mouth, the fruits are starting to receed and acidity seems a bit more up front. Got a hint of mushrooms on the back of the palate. Time to drink this one up.
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8/1/2005 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Oz wines mid-80s (Lucio's, Paddington): {cork, 13.5%} Still red-black after all these years. Dark aromas – blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, tar and iodine, underlying chocolate/vanilla oak, but the nose is very integrated and compact. The palate has all this and more – zippy acid, fine yet soft tannins which do build after a while; a full bodied wine that’s not too overpowering. Still very young – in truth at this stage the nose is more rewarding than the palate – the wine hasn’t quite come together yet (it sounds ridiculous I know). There’s a long way to go before much in the way of secondary development will be apparent – I wouldn’t drink any more of this for another 5 years, and then only to confirm that it will be better in 10… Very good, obviously, but yet to reach its potential.
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12/1/2004 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Still dark and highly concentrated with firm tannins. This is a wonderful wine with aromas of clove and fruit, followed by jammy blackberry on the palate. It can still use years in the bottle, but opened up nicely after a couple of hours. 5/01
Shiraz shootout - Group #4 - Full red crimson (showing a bit of age). Subdued dustry aromas with clean acidity. Huge mouthful of baclk cherry fruit on a sturdy tannic frame. Nice long finish. This is starting to drink but could still use 5 years. 12/04
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10/15/2001 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - 1990 & prior (Darling Mills, Glebe): Still a deep black red. A kind of molten, inky, blackberry nose. Closed and astringent on the palate. The tannins are very powerful and the fruit is not easy to detect. I seemed to be one of the few at the table to be a little disappointed with this wine. The fruit seemed buried, and the finish wasn't long or rich as I expected. I wondered if it was ever-so-slightly corked, until I realised that it followed into the glass a wine that was corked (but risned) Maybe someting remained? At any rate, disappointing, but perhaps not typical.
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