Winemaker Notes
Awash with blackness. Nuanced? Not really, a rapid re-emission of waves of… everything!
Sumpy and sooty. Transient flashes akin to that of a blacksmith’s anvil or a cobbler’s boot polish? Relocating to the kitchen, black pudding and marrow immediately come to mind. Ditto, pan scrapings, and a suggestion of bay leaf in stew (à la Osso Bucco). Certainly easier to ID – spires of black cherry, dark chocolate and Chinotto. Prancing above – Grange trademark V.A. and the formics/ferrics (haemoglobin). Oak? Conceded. Just. 100% new? Old school. Proudly. Respectfully, yet immediately and undeniably saturated/slurpy/ sumptuous. Rich and lush with volume and density, energy and drive. Tightly woven, defined and yet intense, generous. A re-emergence of descriptors earlier sensed aromatically – black cherry, dark chocolate and Chinotto, and also add – walnut and Dubbin boot polish. The palate fans/extends outwards… a veritable lava flow of tannins impinges on all in its path. These tannins are buffed/resolved/polished. Lingers – in no hurry to exit - memories at stake!
Reminiscent of which recent Grange vintage? Arguably may have to go back to the 1998.
Blend: 97% Shiraz, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
There are times when a tasting of an icon wine can leave you slightly underwhelmed. This was not one of those times. Standing out like an A-lister in a spotlight among the 2026 Collection releases, this 75th anniversary vintage of Grange deserves every standing ovation the audience can give. Coming from a cool growing season – 'I always like the cooler years,' shares chief winemaker Peter Gago – 2022 blends fruit from Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra, spending 18 months in new American oak hogsheads. Already offering so much aromatically, with a finely detailed nose that layers rose petals and spice with meaty and earthy tones; so fresh and harmonious. With just 3% of Cabernet in the mix, the palate showcases absolute purity of Shiraz fruit; somehow managing to combine plushness with elegance and vivid energy. Yes, you can deconstruct the impeccable tannins and trademark Grange volatile acidity; but I suspect you'll be swept up in the effortless balance and lingering finish of a wine that already feels so complete, though it also has decades ahead of it. Bravo!
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James Suckling
Another excellent release with a cooler, softer feel reflecting the vintage conditions. Black and blue berries with plum skin, mint, leather, cedar, bitter chocolate, bay leaf and ferric earth. The palate is silky and unctuous with no hard edges, melting tannins and a tense, salivating finish with a savory-edged austerity. A wine with decades ahead to unravel its nuance. A blend of 97% shiraz and 3% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 vintage in South Australia was magnificent. I've loved the wines. It will always live in the shadow of the exceptional 2021 vintage. The season for Grange growers was shaped by a cool, measured growing season across South Australia. Good winter rainfall supported early vine growth, while unsettled spring weather, including hail, reduced yields, particularly for Barossa Valley Shiraz. A mild summer with few extreme heat events allowed slow, even ripening across key regions. Low yields, healthy canopies and extended hang time produced small berries, firm tannins, retained freshness and controlled power. Aromatically, the wine leads with licorice and blackberry, raspberry seed, cold tea and civet paste too.
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Wine Spectator
This wine feels inherently indulgent, starting with a deep, rich base of bittersweet chocolate ganache that mingles with fresh coconut, tonka bean oil, salted caramel, sweet mint, white pepper and cardamom cake notes up front. At the core are perfectly ripe, plush black cherry, clove and blackberry preserves, with a touch of huckleberry pie. Generous, refined and polished
Since 1844, Penfolds has been grounded in experimentation, curiosity and uncompromising quality. Their success has been driven by a lineage of visionary winemakers. It began with Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold, the pioneers who dreamed big, inventing tonics, brandies, and fortified wines made from grapes and Australian sunshine. It continued with celebrated winemaking legends including Max Schubert, who pushed the development to extraordinary, bold new heights. It is this pioneering spirit and curiosity that still rings true after nearly two centuries, it is what has helped Penfolds become one of the most celebrated winemakers in the world today.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
South Australia is the historic heart of Australian wine, a great wine capital of the world, and home to some of the most famous regions. It produces more than 80% of Australia’s premium wine from some of the oldest vines in the world. There is an abundance of varieties and wide spectrum of styles to explore. From the rogue to refined, discover Australian wines that are far from ordinary.