Penfolds
Grange South Australia Shiraz
South Australia, Australia
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+.
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+.
Gorgeous nose of classic grange. Deep pure plum and tangy fruit. Amazing stuff.
Gorgeous nose of classic grange. Deep pure plum and tangy fruit. Amazing stuff.
May 19th, 2025This is exceptional. Harmonious and intense. Light and precise. Great Syrah. Not too hot. Purity and the fruit is fantastic. I love this. Wow
This is exceptional. Harmonious and intense. Light and precise. Great Syrah. Not too hot. Purity and the fruit is fantastic. I love this. Wow
May 19th, 2025About as big of a personality as one could imagine and yet, Grange remains true to itself. The 2001 is still quite youthful; imbued with enormous power. Concentrated, ripe blue and black fruits with some mushrooms, earth, purple flowers, black pepper and delicious baked goods. It’s great now but could use another decade+ to fully mature and from there, who knows? 2051 seems easily attainable.
About as big of a personality as one could imagine and yet, Grange remains true to itself. The 2001 is still quite youthful; imbued with enormous power. Concentrated, ripe blue and black fruits with some mushrooms, earth, purple flowers, black pepper and delicious baked goods. It’s great now but could use another decade+ to fully mature and from there, who knows? 2051 seems easily attainable.
Sep 18th, 2024
#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.
#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.
Poured into a decanter about 45min prior to dinner. In the glass, the 2002 Grange pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous, with powerful dark brambles, baked blueberries, black pepper, coffee, purple flowers, leather, umami, tilled earth, Flintstones vitamins and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is extraordinarily long and rich. A remarkable wine and I can see why people say that Grange needs forever to calm down. Drink now with some patience as it really started to tell more after some air and it should be awesome through 2037. An awesome pairing with a Morgan Ranch Wagyu Tomahawk. My very first Grange and, hopefully, not my last!
Poured into a decanter about 45min prior to dinner. In the glass, the 2002 Grange pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous, with powerful dark brambles, baked blueberries, black pepper, coffee, purple flowers, leather, umami, tilled earth, Flintstones vitamins and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is extraordinarily long and rich. A remarkable wine and I can see why people say that Grange needs forever to calm down. Drink now with some patience as it really started to tell more after some air and it should be awesome through 2037. An awesome pairing with a Morgan Ranch Wagyu Tomahawk. My very first Grange and, hopefully, not my last!
Mar 8th, 2024Lovely fruit. Sappy and still vital. Great
Lovely fruit. Sappy and still vital. Great
Apr 12th, 2023Supple fruit a hint of oak. Lovely persistence. Very pure
Supple fruit a hint of oak. Lovely persistence. Very pure
Apr 12th, 2023Stinky dark plum and sour black cherry. Gorgeous feral savory fruit. A touch of wild but super velvet and plush. Noticeable oak but seamless and lush. Really good stuff.
Stinky dark plum and sour black cherry. Gorgeous feral savory fruit. A touch of wild but super velvet and plush. Noticeable oak but seamless and lush. Really good stuff.
Mar 24th, 2023