Winemaker Notes
The 1990 vintage of this wine was ranked #1 on the Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 1995
Grange is arguably Australia's most famous wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Grange boasts an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951 and clearlydemonstrates the synergy between Shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia.
Color: Deep, dark garnet.
Nose: At once Grange - a tightly wrapped projectionfrom the glass of dark-berried Barossa fruitscoupled with a myriad of barrel fermentcomplexities. Thereafter, a burst of honey-curedjamon / pancetta aromatically thrust above, witha rich mix of generously basted roasted meats,peat & nutmeg anchored beneath.Upon sitting / air these characters descend,revealing beguiling elements of freshly turnedvolcanic earth and an innocent suggestion of old-growth forest floor underlay.
Palate: The flavor pool primarily highlights Satsumaplum conserve alongside rhubarb/aniseed/fennel, with liqueur chocolate shyly awaitingmid-palate. Oak absorbed and hidden, not so themuscular tannins, power/extract. Neverthelessbalanced, firm, polished.
The first sip welcomes, the second sip asserts, thethird... submission!
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Containing just a dollop of 4.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2005 Grange is about 85%+ Barossa fruit with the remaining proportions coming from McLaren vale and Coonawarra. It was aged for 18 months in 100% new American oak hogsheads. The nose begins a bit animal with some smoked game, mincemeat and bacon notes emerging over the freshly crushed, sun-warmed blackberries, black currant cordial, earth, black truffles, anise and allspice. Rich and full with very firm very fine tannins and very crisp acid, it gives a long finish layered with coffee, mincemeat and toast. Drink it 2013 to 2025+.
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Wine Spectator
Supple, refined and focused, this is generous with its ripe currant, blackberry jam and fresh cherry flavors playing against grace notes of coffee, tar, white pepper and molasses. The finish keeps hovering and gets richer with each sip. Lip-smackingly good.
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Wine & Spirits
2005 South Australia Grange Bin 95 Shiraz There's fresh fruit at the core of this wine, bringing Maine blueberries to mind. But there's also a lot of hyperripe character and new oak, along with the Penfolds touch of volatility. It seems Porty when first opened, and it isn't until a day later that the wine opens up and sails. The thickness dissipates and the space between the tannins widens, allowing fennel, fresh blackberry and blueberry flavors to come to the fore. The iron-mineral tannin seems interchangeable with the wine's meaty impression, slowly revealing the soils of Barossa. This will take ten years or more to show its strengths.
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.