Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2016 pours a deep garnet/purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, blackberries, tobacco, pencil shavings, Poblano pepper, dried flowers, a mix of organic and inorganic earth along with some cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A lovely, classic left bank Bordeaux with all of the characteristics I want. I love the sense of place these wines deliver. Drink now through 2056. — 10 days ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.3

Dark rubi robe, nose of Cedarwood, plums, dark berries, and a touch of baked spices. Very fresh and balanced, mature tannins that softened over 25 years. Wine is medium bodied with good length and ready to drink but no rush at all. One of the finest rive gauche wines we know and thats an excellent vintage. — 22 days ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Tom Casagrande

9.2

This was drinking beautifully. Soft, fragrant, balanced, complex. Classic Pessac tobaccoey nose and flavors. — 24 days ago

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.1

At peak. Not great, but balanced, resolved and we emptied the bottle fast. — 2 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2025 vintage (primeur). Looks like it will become one of the best ever. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

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+. — 3 months ago

Chris MacLean

9.2

Showing really well already — 12 days ago

Austin Blackwell

9.2

In a great spot if you like savory wines. Fruit and acidity have calmed, allowing a gamey aroma profile of cured meats and iodine to come through. It still has some dark plum and cherry but showing the age and complex bouquet which is quite nice. Medium plus bodied, it has nice texture with an approachable ABV at 13.5%. — 7 days ago

with Angelina

Ron Siegel

9.4

Classic La Mission nose that is in a perfect spot showing red & black fruits, cedar, leather, earth, graphite, spice box along with sweet tobacco — 16 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.6

Crna team lider @ grand cru MAGNUM — 8 days ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Great clarity and texture. Deep and impressive. Fully resolved but still powerful. Very good — 2 months ago

with Walker and David

Jeroen Koenen

9.5

Just like the other two White Bordeaux from 1996 tonight, this seemed advanced, lush and rich. — 2 months ago

Lisanne Nijenhuis

9.3

🎵 Younger you, Miley Cyrus — 3 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

vintage 2020 | Still young, obviously. great potential. — a month ago

Mary Beth Mulholland

9.2

I loved the flavor and finish of this. Great smell and one of the few deeper reds I can drink without food—but also thoroughly enjoyed it with our surf and turf dinner. Would buy again for a dinner party wine. — 8 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Cena lider mty @ gand cru — 8 days ago

Suneal Vishnupad

9.3

Super interesting – barbecue, smoke and green pepper really different but enjoyable. Quite a distinct flavor.  — 10 days ago

Wulf Losee

9.2

Soft tannic structure. Buttery. — a month ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

Lacks complexity but its a truly excellent bottle and is singing now. Really good wine that is long lasting in bottle. Classical style. — 3 months ago

with Jose, veronique and 4 others

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2023 vintage. A classic vintage, without the opulence of the 2022, and a bit more body than the 2021. — 3 months ago