Vanessa

9.4

We finally had the chance to clink glasses 🥂 to celebrate our D6 results and completion of WSET Diploma!  🥳

We decided to pop this bottle of 2009 Penfolds “Grange” that we’ve been holding onto for some time… ⏰

It’s a 98% Shiraz and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon blend 🍇 made with grapes hailing from vineyards of Barossa Valley (primarily), McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and Magill Estate, all situated in South Australia. 🇦🇺

It had a medium garnet hue 👁️ with medium (+) intensity of layered aromas 👃🏻 and flavors 👄 including plush and concentrated notes of red and black cherry, cassis, boysenberry, dried fig, blueberry, violet, cocoa nibs, mocha, cedar, dill, vanilla, nutmeg, anise seed, clove, licorice, mint, forest floor, tobacco, leather, peppercorn, and meat. 👀

On the palate, it was dry with medium acidity, a lusciously full body, medium (+) velvety tannins, high alcohol (14.5% ABV) and a long finish. 🙌🏻

It was a spectacular wine, ripe for the occasion.  Cheers! — 4 days ago

with Deked1

Bob McDonald

9.1

Very dark in colour - almost black. Lots of everything - ripeness, oak, blackberry, dark chocolate. The sort of wine I would have loved in my 20’s, not so much in my 70’s. Not for lovers of delicate wine - this is full throttle. This Australian producer is probably better known in the USA than Australia - like Mollydooker. A full bodied palate with M plus intensity and grainy tannins. Ranked No. 3 in Wine Spectators Top 100 wines of 2012. Not sure that extended cellaring will make a huge difference but will try to have the last one in early 2027. — a month ago

Byron Hewett

9.5

World class! Stunning beauty of a wine. Silky, lemon-lime fruit with a very long finish. — 3 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.6

I love Penfolds Grange...one of my all time favourite wines. The depth and concentration of flavour of this 33 year old wine is outstanding...i think these will just go forever. Massive wine and a reminder of how excellent Syrah is! — 9 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Generally one of the best Cabernets in Margaret River and therefore Australia. Very dark Ruby in colour. Cassis and blackberry, ripe and rich. I would never pick this as Margaret River in a blind tasting. Where are the herbal notes? But still recognisable as a quality Cabernet. The 2009 Moss Wood was given a poor score of only 84 points by Huon Hooke who is one of Australia’s leading wine scribes. He said “over ripe fruit is the problem “. I have always rated Huon’s reviews and have been a long time subscriber to his website and always will be but I don’t believe he got this right. On 4th July 2012 he said “I can’t see this ageing well” and gave a drinking window of 2012 to 2018. Well tonight at 15 years of age it is drinking very well. James Halliday gave the wine 95 points. — 2 days ago

C.C. Fridlin

9.0

Was a gift. Very nice wine. — a month ago

Jan de Weerd

9.8

Another amaaazing wine here in Down Under. The Basket Press only available to the ‘in’ members of Rockford winery. Rich flavors expressing from beginning to end in layers of dark, ripe fruits but firmly anchored by well rounded, soft tannins that carried the experience to a long lingering, pleasant finish. We had lunch with our friend who happened to ‘in’ 😊 with Rockford hence our opportunity to taste this wine and share it with other friends who had been admiring Rockford wines for 40 years. — 6 months ago

with Gareth, Andrea and 1 other

Bob McDonald

9.8

Still a very dense crimson with no tawny rim, at 28 years of age but the tawniness is beginning. A certain feral, Animale, earthy note. Palate is ultra smooth, medium bodied / very savoury yet with a sweetish earthy note with a hint of raspberry. Jancis Robinson was invited by Stephen Henschke to a vertical tasting at the winery in May 2013 to cover vintages back to the late 1950’s. She described the 1996 as “pure hedonism “ and gave it 19/20. Medium plus intensity on the delicious palate with those gnarled old 160 year vines showing through. An absolutely stunning wine - one of the best we’ve had this year. — 14 days ago

"Odedi"

9.4

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish/ brick rim.

Nose of black currants, blueberries, black cherries, light earth, tobacco leaf, cedar, light vanilla, licorice, eucalyptus, forest floor, mildew, black pepper and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, herbs, earth, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, eucalyptus, Indian spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 24 year old iconic wine from Australia is still drinking beautifully. Tasty and smooth with good structure and great complexity. A little bitter on the ending for me, though.

Feels like a 30 year old Left Bank Bordeaux. Might be a bit past its prime, but Interesting stuff nonetheless.

Robert Parker 93 points.

Needed 3 hours of airtime to open up properly.

It is delicious, but I expected more from it. Might just be this specific bottle. I've had a few different vintages of this great wine and it is always an experience.

Good by itself or with food, like a nice piece of steak.

100% Shiraz grapes from Barossa Valley were aged in American oak barrels for 18 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$400. — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Love these “Blue Boys.” Mollydooker (Aussie for left-hander) Wines was established in 2005 by Sarah and Sparky Marquis. Dark Ruby with dark berry fruit aromas adding sweet spice and cedar. On the palate this wine has complex flavors of blackberry and blueberry with licorice, cacao, oak and vanilla. Fine dusty tannins, peasant mouthfeel (16% Alcohol), full-bodied, long ending with a nice spicy finish. Aging well, good now, has room to run over short term. — 6 months ago