Editors notes
This is Australia’s flagship wine.
It has become an international wine icon, and the major Australian investment piece. Every mum and dad wants a bottle of Grange in their investment portfolio, in anticipation of making a quick (or medium) return on investment. Released at $400 per bottle, this wine escalated dramatically in price, reaching between $700-800 per bottle shortly after release. The 1998 vintage is legendary, being regarded as the vintage of last century. So, how good is this wine? The wine is exceptional and certainly lives up to its reputation as Australia’s No. 1 wine.
Opaque black crimson colour. Superb nose with that distinctive aromatic marker that is Grange. Perfumed notes of violets, ripe plum, cedar and spice emerge over a distinctive American oak background. The palate flavours explode and delivers flavours of great length and depth. Mouthfilling with flavours of confectionary, ripe plum, American oak, cedar, dark chocolate, liquorice and violet infusions. Perfect balance despite the firm tannin backbone. This is a monumental wine built to last.
Details
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Wine Type
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Vintage
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Variety
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Brand
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Location
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Cellaring
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Closure
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Alcohol Percentage
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Bottle Size
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Oak Type
Tasting Profile
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Pepper
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Palate
- Blackberry
- Fruit Cake
- Tobacco
Food Pairings
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Pork -
Red Meat
Critic Scores & reviews
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Falstaff Magazine
97"A lovely sense of blueberry with the merest hint of smoke and a touch of vanilla informs the nose. The palate adds a cool, minty sheen of freshness, accentuating the ripeness of the blueberry fruit. The tannins are dense and the wine has a sleek compactness as well as a youthful elegance. Fragrant from start to finish, long and cool."
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James Halliday
94"Medium to full red, with just a touch of purple remaining; powerful, complex dark fruits, chocolate and savoury lemon/vanilla oak on the bouquet, then a similarly powerful palate where earth and chocolate join the chorus of flavours promised by the bouquet; persistent tannins, of course. It's hard to suggest this will be regarded as a great Grange in 20 years or so, but it is nonetheless in the mainstream of Grange style. 94 pts, James Halliday"
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
94"The 1997 Grange (a blend of 96% Shiraz and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon) looks to be a classic Grange, although slightly softer and more forward than the backward 1996. The saturated purple-colored 1997 offers a gorgeously sweet nose of blackberry liqueur, cherries, camphor, chocolate, plums, and mocha. The wine is opulently-textured, extremely soft, layered, and seductive, with Grange's tell-tale personality well-displayed, but in a seamless, seductive style. This is a superb Grange that can hold its own against the more heralded 1996."
Other vintages
Love this wine? Here's a list of other vintages we have in stock if you'd like to try them as well.
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- Variety Shiraz Blend
- Vintage 1998
- Brand Penfolds
- Cellaring 10-15 Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 14.5% Alcohol
Penfolds Grange 1998-
Robert Parker's98+ points
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James Halliday97 points
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Campbell Mattin97 points
$899.99 -
- Variety Shiraz Blend
- Vintage 1998
- Brand Penfolds
- Cellaring 10-15 Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 14.5% Alcohol
Penfolds Grange 1998 1.5L-
Robert Parker's98+ points
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James Halliday97 points
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Campbell Mattin97 points
$2,250.00 -
- Variety Shiraz Blend
- Vintage 1992
- Brand Penfolds
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 13.5% Alcohol
Penfolds Grange 1992-
Huon Hooke91 points
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Jeremy Oliver94 points
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James Halliday96 points
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Jeannie Cho Lee92 points
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Neal Martin92 points
$799.00 -
- Variety Shiraz Blend
- Vintage 2002
- Brand Penfolds
- Cellaring 10-15 Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 14.5% Alcohol
Penfolds Grange 2002 Original Wooden Case-
Robert Parker's98+ points
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James Halliday97 points
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Campbell Mattin96 points
$784.99 -
- Variety Shiraz Blend
- Vintage 2010
- Brand Penfolds
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 14.2% Alcohol
Penfolds Bin 95 Grange 2010 - In Special Gift Box-
James Halliday99 points
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Lisa Perrotti-B99 points
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James Suckling100 points
$1,099.99
Current auction
All current auctions for this wine & any different vintages.
Locations
Australia
Australia's wine industry is a thriving part of the country's economy, contributing significantly to employment, production, export, and tourism. In fact, the industry is the fourth-largest wine exporter in the world, shipping out 760 million liters of wine to countries including France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. One of the key factors contributing to Australia's success as a "New World" wine producer is the formal export and marketing of its wines through Wine Australia.
Australia's wine regions are scattered across the south and southeast, with almost every state boasting its own vineyards. Victoria, for example, is home to an impressive 21 wine regions. Some of the most famous wine regions in Australia include Margaret River, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley, and local regions to New South Wales such as Cowra, Southern Highlands, and Mudgee.
Australian winemakers are known for producing a diverse range of grape varieties, with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir being among the most popular. They tend to focus on producing wines that are ripe, fruit-forward, and easy to drink, using modern winemaking techniques and equipment such as stainless steel tanks and temperature-controlled fermentation.
With its bold, fruit-driven flavors and reputation for quality and diversity, Australian wine has become a popular choice for wine lovers around the world. And with such a broad range of wine regions and grape varieties, there's something for every palate to enjoy.
South Australia
If you like Australian wine, then you probably like South Australia wine. The rich reds produced there put Australia on the wine-making map of the world. With over 40% of the country's vineyards, South Australia can rightfully call itself the wine state.
Wines are produced in several regions throughout the state, though many are naturally grouped together, like Barossa and Eden Valleys, only 15 minutes apart. They include such regions as Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Eden Valley, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island, Langhorne Creek, The Limestone Coast, McLaren Vale and Wrattonbully to name but a few!
Barossa Valley boasts some of the oldest vines in Australia dating back to 1843 and produces some of the world's finest Shiraz, whilst the 'terra rossa' soils of Coonawarra is most suited to producing outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons. If you're a fan of Riesling, Clare Valley is a great place to explore and for a Maritime climate not dissimilar to parts of the Italian coastline, seek out the wines from McLaren Vale.
About the brand Penfolds
Penfolds, a renowned winery steeped in history, traces its origins back to 1844 when it was founded by Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold, a young English doctor, and his wife Mary. Nestled in Magill, on the outskirts of Adelaide, they established a humble cottage and planted vine cuttings from the South of France, laying the foundation for what would become an iconic winemaking legacy.
Fast forward to 1989, when Peter Gago joined the Penfolds team. With his exceptional talent and expertise, he ascended to the position of Chief Winemaker in 2002, leading a remarkable team of experienced winemakers. Under his guidance, they diligently uphold the traditions set by the previous owners and continually strive for excellence in winemaking.
Central to Penfolds' winemaking philosophy is their signature multi-regional blending approach. By sourcing grapes from diverse regions, such as Adelaide, the Barossa Valley, the Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Limestone Coast, and McLaren Vale, they craft wines that showcase the finest qualities of each terroir. These wines are a harmonious fusion of flavors, meticulously balanced to achieve an exceptional taste profile.
Penfolds' dedication to quality is evident not only in their grape selection but also in their winemaking techniques. Embracing the use of fine-grained American and French oak, along with barrel fermentation and maturation, they enhance the wines' complexity and character.
Throughout its existence, Penfolds has played a pivotal role in the evolution of winemaking not just in Australia but across the world. With a legacy spanning nearly two centuries, they have firmly established themselves as one of Australia's most esteemed and influential wineries.
Today, Penfolds sources grapes from an extensive network of over 220 vineyards scattered throughout Australia. From this vast collection, only the very best grapes are chosen, ensuring that every bottle bears the mark of the brand's uncompromising commitment to excellence. Whether enjoyed locally or savored by wine enthusiasts worldwide, Penfolds wines continue to exemplify the epitome of Australian winemaking mastery.
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