2005 Penfolds Grange

Tasting Notes

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 clearly demonstrates the synergy between Shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia. Penfolds Grange displays fully ripe, intensely flavoured and textured Shiraz grapes. The result is a unique Australian style that is now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world's great wines. The Grange style is the original and most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district blending philosophy.

Colour 

Deep, dark garnet

Nose

At once Grange - a tightly wrapped projection from the glass of dark-berried Barossa fruits coupled with a myriad of barrel ferment complexities. Thereafter, a burst of honey-cured jamon/pancetta aromatically thrust above, with a rich mix of generously basted roasted meats, peat & nutmeg anchored beneath.
Upon sitting/air these characters descend, revealing beguiling elements of freshly turned volcanic earth and an innocent suggestion of old growth forest floor underlay.

Palate

The flavour pool primarily highlights Satsuma plum conserve alongside rhubarb/aniseed/fennel, with liqueur chocolate shyly awaiting mid-palate. Oak absorbed and hidden, not so the muscular tannins, power/extract. Nevertheless balanced, firm, polished. 

Remarks

The first sip welcomes, the second sip asserts, the third... submission!

"A small 2005 vintage Grange make - understandably no quality compromise."
"With its DNA at 88% Barossa, this Grange belies most 2005 vintage-chart implications."
Peter Gago - Penfolds Chief Winemaker
(The 2005 Penfolds vintage also saw Bin 389 win The Great Australian Red of 2008, Bin 707 take gold at the 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards and St Henri reach number 24 in Wine Spectator's 2009 Top 100.)

This 2005 may not be the most profound Grange but, oh my goodness, is there some complexity tucked into its crevasses! This is a great vintage for Grange, as exuberant and expressive as any young Grange I have seen. This is a wine with a plethora of layers. The bouquet is particularly lifted and spicy this year, with violets and mixed spice hovering over fruit mince and dark chocolate oak. In time, coal, black olive and Satsuma plum aromas unravel. The palate is powerful, with lifted violets and exotic spice ushering in a cavalcade of stewed plum, rhubarb and plum pudding fruit in the wake of a wave of signature Grange tannins. A Grange that is both seductive and brooding. Score 97 points. Source: Tyson Stelzer, WBM Wine 100, April 1, 2010

Please Note

A collector's item! We believe this wine to be wonderful - however, as with all aged wines, it comes with a 'Buyers be aware' clause, and some labels may not be perfect. If you have any queries, please just drop us an email or give us a call!

Specifications