2023 Birthday lunch (Aquitaine Brasserie): Blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, graphite. Some warm woody notes. More tannin than the RWT or Bin 150, probably from the splash of Cab Sauv. In really good condition.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fathers' Gathering (RPM Italian, Washington D.C.): Explosive nose, unbelievably concentrated intense black and red fruit, crème de cassis, blackberry liqueur, cherry compote, ink, licorice, lead pencil, liquid smoke, strong American oak, vanilla, caramel and earth. Incredibly concentrated, layers upon layers of intense jammy black and red fruit, unctuous and rich, bright acidity, earthy mineral and a long very ripe sweet black and red fruit driven finish with liquid smoke and ash at the end. Really big and oaky Aussie red. If You are a member of AFWE, Avoid! If you are a fan of SQN, your scores will be a few points higher.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for an hour and drank over 2-3 hours Colours is beautifully deep and viscous Aromas of vanilla plum blackberry jam. It is every bit as amazing as you would hope. Medium weight and elegantly poised. Rich velvety sweetness coating balanced tanins... This was a real treat! The sweetness pairs magnificently with cigars.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Enjoyed over a couple hours. At first a little tight and tannic, it begins to unfurl over time. Medium to full bodied, very pure, black currant, plum, smoke and roast meat come through. The wine is very concentrated but also quite elegant and refined. Long long finish. This has so much more to give. A fabulous wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Warm, smooth and rich. Blackberries and red currants with oak, herbs and hints of tabaco and vanilla. Fine tannins and perfect balance giving a gentle acidity. Wonderful long finish. Sublime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lunch beyond Superlatives (The RAC, London): A very much need 3hr decant here. Young , Albeit if we are to be honest all Granges we had have been young irrespective of age and this wine can give Vega Sicilia a run for its money in ability to transcend time. Still though very much approachable and albeit a tour de force now still has an elegance and glass and even for people like us that are not naturally driven to this style we could not but be impressed. It definitely feels like this was made to perfection with a lot of attention to detail and grape selection. It does remind us a lot in this sense to Massetto albeit this is definitely more complex and impressive young . Very solid 94 for now but sky is the limit here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
To me, this is the perfect wine The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, blueberry, black currant (cassis), fig, plum, coffee, vanilla, clove, violet and chocolate. The body is full. The wine has juicy texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my first time with a younger Grange in awhile and I will say it surprised me a bit. This is a very good wine - not yet great. We opened and decanted for about 40 minutes. It was shut down in the beginning, but started to get some evolution with time. The wine was blackberries and savory meat and spice. But mostly in a primary state - not the kindof evolution in the palette or the laundry list of flavors I'm used to for a Grange. It was also more drinkable than I expected - tannins are softer and don't interfere too much. Wine was on a steakhouse list for less than the release price from the estate so we decided worth the special celebration. In general though this wine prob needs another 10-15 years to tell what it's going to be.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted along with 2011 Grange @ Penfolds tasting. Any Grange taste great, and they are so smooth upon first sip, its like eating Kobe beef.
Aroma: 2009 much more up front while 2011 being more subtle & but complex
Taste: There's no mistake that 2009 has more fruits (blackcurrant) but less secondary flavours. 2011 is more herbal, mint, less fruits, tobacco, with wonderful lush tannin. I think the 2009 has so much fruits that tannin & finish is not quite coming through. 2011 finish is so much longer (> 60 secs)
Would love to be able to try 2009 Grange again some time in the future, it needs to burn off that baby fat! 2011 is approachable now (but would be a waste though)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Matter of Taste tasting (London, Saatchi Gallery): Beautiful bouquet with dark forest fruits and dark cherries, sweet spices and some chocolate. Same on the palate. Beautiful and soft acidity and tannin. Harmonious and silky, luxurious wine. 94+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet inky purple colored, medium to full bodied, a symphony of elegant complex balanced black berry, black raspberry and black cherry fruits accented by sweet spicy oak, hints of anise and subtle tone of sweet mocha chocolate turning to silky smooth polished lingering tannins. Delicious.
Aromas of black fruits with a little floral note. Has a lovely contrast of a luxurious mouthfeel bound by fine grippy tannins. The fruit profile is youthful and pure with a really primary ripeness and sweetness. There is a real density to the palate and the finish is long, dark and toasty. Obvious to say but this has decades ahead of it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red Wine Gala Tasting (VC Double Bay): Cherry, blackcurrant, graphite and chocolate. Decent flavour and palate impact, I do like the tannic structure provided. After excellent tasts of the 2007 and 2008 Grange I've had recently, this is a clear step down - I think it is still very good, but not worth close to the asking price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
(Mich&Bo@LangtonsVI) Surprisingly restrained and opened. Chewy, juicy complex blend, dark and svelte, lifted with cinnamon, orange peel, cocoa, mushrooms and iodine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
[From decanter] Very similar to the 2007. Lots of liqueur plums and American oak coconut aromas continue on the full bodied palate. Tasted with 2011 RWT and 2010 St Henry, it was much more like the RWT although much more powerful. It was much brighter than the pair of them with fruit sweetness balancing the acidity. Finished very long until the tannins kicked in which smothered the fruit on the aftertaste. More immediately rewarding than the St Henry and more complete wine than the RTW due to a dreadful 2011 for most red wine. Grange in 2011? Better not!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/1/2023 - colinscellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
2023 Birthday lunch (Aquitaine Brasserie): Blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, graphite. Some warm woody notes. More tannin than the RWT or Bin 150, probably from the splash of Cab Sauv. In really good condition.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2023 - Isaac D wrote:
Still lots of oak. Dark cassis, a medley of black fruits and some coffee. Long on the finish. Very nice bottle. 96+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2022 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
Fathers' Gathering (RPM Italian, Washington D.C.): Explosive nose, unbelievably concentrated intense black and red fruit, crème de cassis, blackberry liqueur, cherry compote, ink, licorice, lead pencil, liquid smoke, strong American oak, vanilla, caramel and earth. Incredibly concentrated, layers upon layers of intense jammy black and red fruit, unctuous and rich, bright acidity, earthy mineral and a long very ripe sweet black and red fruit driven finish with liquid smoke and ash at the end. Really big and oaky Aussie red. If You are a member of AFWE, Avoid! If you are a fan of SQN, your scores will be a few points higher.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2022 - VinoExplorer Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted for an hour and drank over 2-3 hours
Colours is beautifully deep and viscous
Aromas of vanilla plum blackberry jam.
It is every bit as amazing as you would hope. Medium weight and elegantly poised. Rich velvety sweetness coating balanced tanins... This was a real treat!
The sweetness pairs magnificently with cigars.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2021 - mclanew Likes this wine: 97 Points
Popped and poured. Enjoyed over a couple hours. At first a little tight and tannic, it begins to unfurl over time. Medium to full bodied, very pure, black currant, plum, smoke and roast meat come through. The wine is very concentrated but also quite elegant and refined. Long long finish. This has so much more to give. A fabulous wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2021 - Wuhan Joe wrote: 94 Points
Warm, smooth and rich. Blackberries and red currants with oak, herbs and hints of tabaco and vanilla. Fine tannins and perfect balance giving a gentle acidity. Wonderful long finish. Sublime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2021 - Iceman611 wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding. Great terroir and dark fruits. Elegant mouth feel. Gentle tannins. Like a very fine st. Emillion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2021 - Papies wrote: 94 Points
Lunch beyond Superlatives (The RAC, London): A very much need 3hr decant here.
Young , Albeit if we are to be honest all Granges we had have been young irrespective of age and this wine can give Vega Sicilia a run for its money in ability to transcend time. Still though very much approachable and albeit a tour de force now still has an elegance and glass and even for people like us that are not naturally driven to this style we could not but be impressed. It definitely feels like this was made to perfection with a lot of attention to detail and grape selection. It does remind us a lot in this sense to Massetto albeit this is definitely more complex and impressive young . Very solid 94 for now but sky is the limit here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2020 - fcxj wrote: 94 Points
Surprisingly accessible. American vanilla aromatics, but reasonable balance on palate. (AK984)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2018 - Vinolsen wrote:
Henrik Andersen 50
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2017 - AjitK wrote: 100 Points
To me, this is the perfect wine The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, blueberry, black currant (cassis), fig, plum, coffee, vanilla, clove, violet and chocolate. The body is full. The wine has juicy texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2017 - danhenry11 wrote: 93 Points
This was great, very new world. Not anywhere near worth what it costs. Money can be spent far better elsewhere.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2017 - Citarella Likes this wine: 95 Points
Juicy and ready
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2016 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Faint nose of cassis and eucalyptus; pfn with addition of stewed cassis/blueberries and slight fennel; pronounced tannins and long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2015 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
This is my first time with a younger Grange in awhile and I will say it surprised me a bit. This is a very good wine - not yet great. We opened and decanted for about 40 minutes. It was shut down in the beginning, but started to get some evolution with time. The wine was blackberries and savory meat and spice. But mostly in a primary state - not the kindof evolution in the palette or the laundry list of flavors I'm used to for a Grange. It was also more drinkable than I expected - tannins are softer and don't interfere too much. Wine was on a steakhouse list for less than the release price from the estate so we decided worth the special celebration. In general though this wine prob needs another 10-15 years to tell what it's going to be.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2015 - bboard Likes this wine:
Tasted along with 2011 Grange @ Penfolds tasting. Any Grange taste great, and they are so smooth upon first sip, its like eating Kobe beef.
Aroma: 2009 much more up front while 2011 being more subtle & but complex
Taste: There's no mistake that 2009 has more fruits (blackcurrant) but less secondary flavours. 2011 is more herbal, mint, less fruits, tobacco, with wonderful lush tannin. I think the 2009 has so much fruits that tannin & finish is not quite coming through. 2011 finish is so much longer (> 60 secs)
Would love to be able to try 2009 Grange again some time in the future, it needs to burn off that baby fat! 2011 is approachable now (but would be a waste though)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2015 - Edeon wrote: 100 Points
Wow!! Damn. This ruined wine for me. Amazing perfume and complexity. Perfect.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2015 - torciaumana wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 15' and served. Excellent
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2015 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
A Matter of Taste tasting (London, Saatchi Gallery): Beautiful bouquet with dark forest fruits and dark cherries, sweet spices and some chocolate. Same on the palate. Beautiful and soft acidity and tannin. Harmonious and silky, luxurious wine. 94+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2015 - j30 wrote: 93 Points
Complex nose yet full of fruit, not as big as the rwt, not fully opened and quite tannic.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2014 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark garnet inky purple colored, medium to full bodied, a symphony of elegant complex balanced black berry, black raspberry and black cherry fruits accented by sweet spicy oak, hints of anise and subtle tone of sweet mocha chocolate turning to silky smooth polished lingering tannins. Delicious.
http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/12/penfolds-legendary-grange-highlights.html
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2014 - Yme wrote:
96% Shiraz, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
Powerful with plenty of tannins, dark fruits and alcohol. A big 'hot' wine from a hot year.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2014 - Biggsy wrote: 93 Points
Aromas of black fruits with a little floral note. Has a lovely contrast of a luxurious mouthfeel bound by fine grippy tannins. The fruit profile is youthful and pure with a really primary ripeness and sweetness. There is a real density to the palate and the finish is long, dark and toasty. Obvious to say but this has decades ahead of it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2014 - CamWheeler wrote: 91 Points
Red Wine Gala Tasting (VC Double Bay): Cherry, blackcurrant, graphite and chocolate. Decent flavour and palate impact, I do like the tannic structure provided. After excellent tasts of the 2007 and 2008 Grange I've had recently, this is a clear step down - I think it is still very good, but not worth close to the asking price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2014 - JerM wrote:
(Mich&Bo@LangtonsVI) Surprisingly restrained and opened. Chewy, juicy complex blend, dark and svelte, lifted with cinnamon, orange peel, cocoa, mushrooms and iodine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2014 - startinoz wrote: 94 Points
[From decanter] Very similar to the 2007. Lots of liqueur plums and American oak coconut aromas continue on the full bodied palate. Tasted with 2011 RWT and 2010 St Henry, it was much more like the RWT although much more powerful. It was much brighter than the pair of them with fruit sweetness balancing the acidity. Finished very long until the tannins kicked in which smothered the fruit on the aftertaste. More immediately rewarding than the St Henry and more complete wine than the RTW due to a dreadful 2011 for most red wine. Grange in 2011? Better not!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment