Cherry red. Oak vanilla black cherry, berry and plum matured. Black pepper. Herbal.
Fruitiness M+ Sweetness M Acidity M Tannin M Smooth Bitterness M Body M Finish M 14.5%, good concentration. Penfolds Bin138 Barossa Shiraz Blend 19 @1295, cost, 260801 — a month ago
Cena lider mty @ gand cru — 3 months ago
Starts out similar to a Pinot then gets heavier. Very nice! — 3 months ago
I have dreamed of the 1981 Grange for many, many years. Why? Well, it’s quite simple: I’m an ‘81 baby and that year doesn’t have the strongest reputation for producing great wines. Spain and Italy faired better and of course, there were always exceptions. However, most have long been drank or forgotten as it was a tough year in many of the classic wine growing regions. All of that being said, Australia didn’t suffer the same conditions and Penfold’s managed to make a very good expression of Grange in 1981…if only one could find it and then of course, afford it. But, sometimes you just have to put it out into the universe and she answers. Tonight, a dear brother in wine who also happens to share 1981 as a birth year, provided this bottle from his cellar to share. And while my 45th remains a couple months off, we were celebrating life and friendship tonight!
Opened prior to dinner and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1981 pours a deep purple color moving towards a garnet rim and a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and desiccated tart black, red and blue fruits and rotundone: blackberries, raspberries, plum, tobacco, purple flowers, black olive, cocoa, coffee, eucalyptus, leather, toasted coconut, earth and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is looooong. What a stellar showing and this bottle certainly lived up to hype. Drink now through 2041+. — 5 months ago
From Thirst Wine Merchants. Berry juice, milk chocolate. — 8 months ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Fruity nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, eucalyptus, chocolates, spices, vegetables, coffee, herbs and black pepper.
Full bodied and rich with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, spices, toast, coffee, light vanilla, dark chocolates, peppercorn, earth and black tea.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This gorgeous 21 year old red blend from Saint Julien is drinking beautifully now. Powerful and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and elegant.
Peaking now, and still feels very fresh, with a lot of power to take it even longer. Will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years.
This Third Growth Bordeaux is showing great complexity with a great mouthfeel. Spicy and entertaining. A great vintage in Bordeaux, and it is definitely showing.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food like a big piece of steak.
A blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot. Aged in (60% new) French Oak barrels for 21 months.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$125. — 12 days ago

Absolutely stunning. — 25 days ago
Crna team lider @ grand cru MAGNUM — 3 months ago
Good but nothing great only buy the small bottles for mid week wines — 3 months ago
"A traditional Australian blend combining the expressiveness of Shiraz with the defined structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. This full-bodied wine shows ripe dark fruit aromas, voluminous richness and plentiful tannins. " — 7 months ago
The taste is rich and multi-layered. Let your tongue feel it, and then go deeper until you reach the back of your tongue. It ranges from sweet to sour, and the aroma of the wooden barrel comes out, very intense. — 8 months ago
Even in an average vintage like 2007 the Bin 28 can still be showing well at 19 years of age. Blackberry and Penfolds Choc mocha. Some herb garden and liquorice. Will not improve but could carry on for a couple more years. — a month ago
Fully bodied, with layers of cassis and red fruit. Mellow tannins, but grippy. Good blend. — 3 months ago
Blend of Shiraz (64%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (36%). Dark ruby color with purple highlights and a fine garnet rim. Aromas of ripe dark fruit, milk chocolate, mint and a bit of alcohol heat. Flavors of black cherry, currant and raspberry fruit, smoked/cured meat, cola, black pepper and baking spices. Medium-plus finish, slightly chewy tannins and noticeable oak. Creamy texture and quite bold. Thinking that laying this one down for a few years helped it mellow a bit. Solid quality for the price. — 4 months ago
$42 very good. — 6 months ago
Oldest in the Penfolds portfolio, Wine includes fruit from Barossa, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Clare and Wrattonbully vineyards, aged 12 months in American oak, 7% new. Deep Ruby color with aromas of dark berry fruits and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and cherry with cacao, espresso and vanilla oak. Vivid acidity, ripe fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit and spice, very nice! Good value with aging potential. — 7 months ago
Big Wave Dave
Beautiful wine. Still kicking after 30+ yrs. lacking a bit of acidity but tannins are still there. Fully integrated and long. Fish @67 Pall Mall. — 10 days ago