Penfolds Grange Bin 95 Shiraz

Dense and deep, bright and lively crimson-red

NOSE

Rampant scents derived from kitchen (winery) and garden (vineyard) …

A wine-loving forensic sniff or two, rather than an imagined spectrophotometric analysis reveals:

• Venison carpaccio with a sweet balsamic reduction and freshly-pressed olive oil. Or, uncured pastrami?

• A salsa verde type-emulsion with an emphasis on the parsley and extra virgin olive oil. Add tomato, omit lemon.

• Enough of the savoury – wafts of sticky rice pudding, apricot pip, vanillin pod and coconut husk.

• Subtle sweet and spiced sandalwood, ground cumin and wintergreen notes remind of an eighteen-month sabbatical in oak.

Verified: 2017 Grange.

PALATE

Where to start?! An advancing wave of flavours, understated power and charm. The swell builds and a more persuasive wave follows …

and then more, with each sip. In an attempt to unravel and articulate this ‘ingestion’ …

The flavours:

Laden with shiraz fruits from the Barossa to the North and McLaren to the South - ‘maritime’ and ‘continental’ climatic/varietal diversity.

Red and black liquorice, soy and malt, burnt vanilla marshmallow …

Dark chocolate, wrapped in a satiny copha/beeswax candle-like coating.

Supple oak nuances - dexterously integrated, no doubt compliments of barrel ferment (and our valued long-time Barossa cooper).

The texture:

Mouthfeel is creamy/velvety, rather than blocky/chunky at this youthful stage in bottle.

Tannins are tight, creating a dense coating, with a ‘rusty’ edge.

Ebullient acidity, whilst lively and racy, is well-managed and protective. To borrow a recently read descriptor – “cherry stone minerality”

For more than a century, Penfolds has been recognised globally for a pioneering spirit and commitment to quality. Today, our wines continue to delight and inspire all who enjoy great wine and the Penfolds experience. The success of Penfolds has been driven by the generations of visionaries and innovators. From the beginning in 1844 to today, the merging of science, art and innovation has driven Penfolds to become one of Australia's most famed and respected winemakers. Grange’s reputation as one of the world’s most celebrated wines continues to grow today. On its 50th birthday in 2001, Grange was listed as a South Australian heritage icon, while the 2008 Grange vintage achieved a perfect score of 100 points by two of the world’s most influential wine magazines. With every new generation of Penfolds winemakers, Max Schubert’s remarkable vision is nurtured and strengthened.

PETER GAGO Penfolds Chief Winemaker In 2021, Peter joined Decanter's prestigious 'Hall of Fame' 2018 honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia in recognition of outstanding service to the Australian wine industry Companion of The Order of Australia (AC) in 2017 for service to the wine industry 2016 Bragg Membership of the Royal Institution of Australia for services to oenology 2015 Baron of the Barossa 2014 Winemaker of the Year and recipient of the Len Evans Award for Leadership from Gourmet Traveller WINE (Australia) 2012 Winemaker's Winemaker Award from The Institute of the Masters of Wine and The Drinks Business (UK) 2007 Winemaker of the Year by The Barons of the Barossa (Australia) 2005 Winemaker of the Year from Wine Enthusiast Magazine