Product Information:
On the international stage, Penfolds Grange has everything required of a great red wine: complexity, richness, balance and longevity. Representing the pinnacle of the Penfolds red wine range, the 1991 Grange is one of the finest red wines made in Australia and displays lifted classic Grange character, perhaps more so than the highly acclaimed 1990.
Grange is arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. A powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district blending philosophy. It's crafted utilising fully ripe, intensely flavoured and structured 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. With an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951, Grange clearly demonstrates the synergy between shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia Penfold's Grange is Australia's most revered wine, and its creation represents a distillation of Max Schubert's ambition for Australian wine. Schubert joined Penfolds as a messenger boy in 1931 and by 1948, he became Penfolds' first Chief Winemaker. In the latter part of 1950, Schubert was sent to Europe to investigate winemaking practices in Spain and Portugal. On a side trip to Bordeaux, Schubert was inspired and impressed by the French cellared-style wines and dreamed of making 'something different and lasting' of his own.
Combining traditional Australian techniques, inspiration from Europe and precision winemaking practices developed at Penfolds, Schubert made his first experimental wine in 1951. In 1957, Schubert was asked to show his efforts in Sydney to top management, invited wine identities and personal friends of the board. To his horror, the Grange experiment was universally disliked and Schubert was ordered to shut down the project. Max continued to craft his Grange vintages in secret, hiding three vintages '57, '58 and '59, in the depths of the cellars. Eventually, the Penfolds board ordered production of Grange to restart, just in time for the 1960 vintage. From then on, international acknowledgment and awards were bestowed on Grange, including the 1990 vintage of Grange, which was named Wine Spectator's Red Wine of the Year in 1995.
Maker:
Penfolds has been a pioneer in the world of winemaking since its establishment in 1844 by Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold. The company's success has been driven by a lineage of visionary winemakers who have pushed the development of the company to extraordinary, bold new heights. Mary Penfold's reign at the helm of Penfolds saw years of determination and endeavour, experimenting with new methods in wine production. In 1948, Max Schubert became the company's first Chief Winemaker and he propelled Penfolds onto the global stage with his experimentation of long-lasting wines - the creation of Penfolds Grange in the 1950s. Soon, the medals began flowing, and Grange quickly became one of the most revered wines around the world. In 2012, Penfolds released its most innovative project to date - 12 handcrafted ampoules of the rare 2004 Kalimna Block Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Penfolds continues to hold dear the philosophies and legends that have driven the company's success since its establishment in 1844.
Vineyards:
A classic dry Australian summer followed a warm start to the growing season and above-average temperatures in January and February, especially in South Australia. Vintage was early and yields were slightly down, but most winemakers would happily experience a 1991 season every year. Comparisons with the previous vintage of 1990 are always inevitable when such great seasons come in pairs. Only time will tell, but it would appear that the while 1991 reds are more restrained and classically structured, the 1990 crop is typically thicker, more dense and powerful.
Nose - Ripe Berry Spice, Tobacco, Mocha
The rich bouquet shows an incredible depth of ripe berry spice, tobacco, mocha and green tea aromas with unmistakable Penfolds oak handling
Palate - Concentrated Flavours, Rich Dark Berry Fruits, Earthy
Black and red berry fruit cascading through the mouth and savoury, gently herbal, developed characters just starting to pull through.
Finish - Leather, Background Oak, Astonishing Length
A touch of mint in the background. A superb wine, from a stand-out vintage of this famous wine.
Typical Grange power and concentration, now nicely mature. A crushed-ant/formic acid note on the nose is typical of Grange of this era (some tasters objected to perceived volatility). A touch of mint in the background. A superb wine, from a stand-out vintage of this famous win. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 97 Points.
At first it presents as remarkably fruity, but the more you look at it the more it seems like an example of highly skilled engineering. It’s a wine of considerable and outstanding finesse, with black and red berry fruit cascading through the mouth and savoury, gently herbal, developed characters just starting to pull through. Great structure, and it will get even better. - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, 96 Points.
Intense with marked cassis liqueur. A bit solid and thick and sweet. Seems a bit middle-aged. Solid and sturdy. Leathery with quite a bit of tannin. Slightly syrupy. - Jancis Robinson.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz 95%, Cabernet Sauvignon 5%
Country - Australia
Region - Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, South Australia
Vintage - 1991
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
Closure - Cork
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