The latest release, from the warm '18 vintage, of Penfolds's most iconic wine delivers on all it promises. Even sans decanting, it promptly fills the nose with a multitude of aromas, from black cherry and lightly grilled plums to dark chocolate and cracked black pepper; from roasting herbs and spices (think bay leaf, rosemary, thyme and dried mint), to a polished glean of well-integrated oak. The palate is powerful, in a dignified way, with a sculpted shape, fine, chalky tannins and persistent flavor. Decades of age await, but if well decanted and well paired, it's drinking remarkably beautifully now.
98 POINTS WINE ENTHUSIAST
99 POINTS ROBERT PARKER THE WINE ADVOCATE
100 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING
100 POINTS THE WINE INDEPENDENT
Composed of 97% Shiraz with a 3% splash of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Grange was sourced from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Clare Valley. It was aged for 18 months in 100% new American oak hogsheads (slightly larger than the classic Bordeaux barriques). Crafted utilising fully ripe, intensely flavoured and structured shiraz grapes, Penfolds Grange is a unique Australian style shiraz that is now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world’s great red wines.
The story began with a side trip to Bordeaux in 1950, where a wine ‘capable of staying alive for a minimum of twenty years’, first entered Max Schubert’s mind. He crafted his first experimental Grange Hermitage in 1951 – named after ‘Grange Cottage’, the first Australian home of our founders, Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold. This wine began a new way of thinking that would eventually lead to a signature wine style, but not before Grange was discredited by the Penfolds board, forcing Max Schubert to continue making the wine in secrecy. It wasn’t until 1960 that the board recognised the value of quality aged red wines with Grange triumphantly reinstated.
The timeless appeal of Grange resides in its unwavering commitment to an unchanged style, from experimental vintages to the present. Grange is memorable for its aromatic complexity, intensely rich fruit, ripe tannins of shiraz and nuanced American oak. Partial barrel fermentation and 18 to 20 months of oak maturation enhance these qualities, while further ageing in the bottle allows the wine to evolve, with tannins softening and complexity building. With an unbroken line of vintages since 1951, this iconic red wine demonstrates the synergy between shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia.
Penfolds Grange has been awarded over 30 perfect scores from top wine critics around the world, including 100 points from both Wine Spectator and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate for the 2008 vintage and eight perfect scores for the 2018 vintage.
Pairing Suggestions: Flavorful, textured dishes, dark sauces, game, meditation
Maturation: Post classification, the final blend spends 18 to 20 months in barrel before bottling and further maturation before release. Grange, an Australian shiraz, embodies a unique significance and complexity, making it a highly sought-after bottle in the world of fine wines.
