Bob McDonald

9.5

I thought for my 4000th Delectable note I should choose something special and I thought a 40 year old Penfolds Grange would fit the bill. This is back in the day when “Hermitage “ was allowed on the label. There was an immense crust on decanting reflecting the drought year of 1983. The colour was an amazing dark dense Ruby with no hint of a tawny edge. Aromas of coffee grounds, mocha, chocolate, fading blackberry, and lavender. Barb thought like an old lady’s powder drawer. Still a solid core - the intestinal fortitude (guts) of this wine is incredible. Finishing with soft silky dry tannins. This could easily have gone on for another 10 years. Andrew Caillard MW had a drinking window extending up to 2040 which would make it nearly 60 years old. The lasting impression are those silky tannins. 1983 was a drought year in South Australia hence the persistence and age of this beautiful wine. I paid about $60 for this in the late 1980s and Wine Searcher had a value of $980 on 2/2/23. — 2 days ago

Aaron Rankin

9.5

Oh it’s Shiraz, no doubt, but moderately dense for the style, and such an elegant brute. This bad girl is drinking well after a couple hours decant. — 9 days ago

Mark

9.4

At Royal Melbourne. Amazing. Full bodied with some eucalyptus and menthol. — a day ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.7

My second time trying Grange. Side by side with Hill of Grace this actually comes across more restrained. But it’s also a younger wine. Currants, plums, lavender, espresso, vanilla, sweet baking spices, asphalt. Rich and polised finish with freshness for balance. Aging will enhance the wine to new heights. — 7 days ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.8

Voted WOTN for good reason. This has been a bucket list wine for me. Some sections of this famous vineyard were planted in 1860 but all of the vines are ridiculously old. It’s bombastic and really stands out from the crowd. Very expressive both on the nose and on the palate. Full bodied and multi layered. Creamy and rich texture. Dark berries, plums, coffee, cigar, orange peel, eucalyptus, soy, cigar box and an array of oriental spices. Probably at a peak right now, such a joy to drink. — 7 days ago

Jul Arro

9.1

She liked it. Gift from patient. — 9 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Oldest in the Penfolds portfolio, Wine includes fruit from Barossa, McLaren Vale, Padthaway and Wrattonbully vineyards, aged in American oak. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits and sweet spice. On the palate ripe blackberry, plum and cherry flavors with cacao, espresso and vanilla oak. Vivid acidity, rich ripe fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit and a bit of spice, very nice! Good value with aging potential. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

The beauty of screwcaps (Stelvin) is that you can keep them standing up so that when you plan to drink them all of the sediment (a reasonable amount in a 15 year old Bin 389) is already at the bottom of the bottle and ready to be decanted. Aromas of Oak, Blackberry and Tar. From the warm 2008 vintage and fairly extracted. Too much oak but it is made for the long haul (20 years plus) and needs to balance all that ripe fruit. Medium plus to full bodied. Blackberry and black cherry. Maybe in 5 years the oak will be fully integrated. I’m sure Penfolds know what they are doing. They’ve only been making Bin 389 for 60 odd years (a guess). — 21 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Twenty-five years old. What a special treat! Wine had a deep crimson color (no hints of brown at all) with a slightly brick rim. Bright aromas of dark cherry, chocolate, mushroom, menthol and roasted herbs. Pallet featured all of the above, plus some baking spices, eucalyptus and plum. Quite earthy. Reasonably long finish and very silky tannins. The wine has mellowed but there still plenty of fruit, texture and acidity. Glad I held on to this one for a while. — 9 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

A massive, deep, powerful and structured masterpiece of a Grange. Youthful, yet also rocking tonight with explosive and layered aromatics of créme de cassis, warm cherry pie, eucalyptus and Christmas spices. They waft from the glass. The palate is rich and intense but also shows such finesse in its delivery, along with a silky smooth texture, ripe tannins and ridiculous length. Differing from my usual wines of choice, but Grange is indeed a special wine. ✨ — a month ago