1980 Penfolds Grange

Community Tasting Notes (42) Avg Score: 93.1 points

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  12/31/2023 - crazywineguy Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Got to see the label first and noted the 12.5% alcohol which was all the rage '79-'83 as Australian winemakers became enarmoured of Old World european reds and aped the style in Australia by picking early and thus lower Baume and consequently lower alcohol. This showed in the lighter density in the mouth yet the fruit still had gravitas which showed in the wonderful nose. Probably showing its age a bit if I want to carp but at 43 years old it is allowed to. No reason to hold, crack one with some dear friends and rare cow.

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  4/8/2023 - solace Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Drunk from Zalto after double decant and recork. Colour is deep ruby with very slight bricking at edge. Nose is a full on melange of plum, berry, chocolate, white pepper, blood, christmas spices, sweat, dried herbs, appleskins. Palate is slightly closed, alcoholic high toned kirsch, powdery tannins need time to resolve obscuring the fruit slightly. Classic profile and structured almost like bordeaux! Wishing there was a bit more alcohol and glycerol in the slightly powdery tannic finish tinged with dark berries. Still a treat but would have loved a bit more on palate. The bottle needs to stand for a few days.

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  3/31/2023 - Boombah31 wrote: 85 Points

  This wine was opened on my 43rd birthday. The wine was initially fruity and reasonably pleasant upon opening. The cork was in good condition. I decanted the wine and left it for 3 hours. It's a 'nice' wine, however, the wine has certainly began it's journey to collapse. Has it turned? Not at all. Is it on the way? Yes. Drink now unless your cork and history of cellaring is impeccable.

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  12/10/2022 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 95 Points

  Bottle in J's cellar cracked and leaking. Had to drink it up. Drank in Gabriel Standart.
  Lots of sediments, but stood upright in small bottle to let large sediments settle to the bottom.
  Appearance deep intensity, ruby-garnet colour. Legs.
  Nose pronounced intensity, with aromas of chocolate mocha, dark red plums, black plums, blackberries, Developed.
  On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol, velvety soft fully integrated tannins, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of blackpepper spice, blueberries, blackberries, dark red plums, black plums, hint of raisin, tertiary earth, tobacco ash, orange peel, integrated sweet oak cream. Slight leather even. Very complex. Long plummy finish with spice and savoury earth lingering.
  Excellent quality. So much dense fruit material that has culminated in this highly complex amalgamation today.

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  6/28/2022 - jlgnml wrote: 98 Points

  For me, this was the WOTN and the color, while showing its age was beautiful. The wine opened in the glass all night long. Minimal tannins, delicious fruit, a favorite of mine. Will last 20+years for those that enjoy older Shiraz. Drink/hold.

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