Product Information:
The 1995 Grange is the 45th consecutive vintage of the wine that carries the flag internationally and domestically for the Australian wine industry. Created by the legendary winemaker, the late Max Schubert, Grange's weight and concentration can be traced to rigorous selection of intensely flavoured Shiraz grapes from mature vines in some of South Australia's finest vineyards. The quantity of Grange made each year is determined by the availability of grapes of the required quality and style. Penfolds multi-region, multi-vineyard blending policy enables winemakers to reduce the impact of vintage variation to the point where experts the world over consider Grange to be among the most consistent of the world's great wines.
The 1995 Grange is comprised of Shiraz (94%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (6%). Matured for 17 months in 100 per cent new American oak hogsheads.
Combining traditional Australian techniques, inspiration from Europe and precision winemaking practices developed at Penfolds, Max 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:
Despite a difficult vintage, rigorous selection of intensely flavoured grapes from mature vines in some of the finest South Australian vineyards produced a wine that exceeded vintage expectations.
Nose - Plum, Blackberry, Leather
Complex with masses of concentrated plum, raspberry and blackberry fruit aromas and hints of leather, dark chocolate.
Palate - Black Cherry, Stewed Fruits, Mixed Spices
Displaying all the classic hallmarks one would expect of Grange, this is a full-bodied, richly flavoured wine with ripe, dark stewed fruits and mixed spices.
Finish - Brambled Berries, Gravelly Tannin, Concentrated
Finishes brambly/gravelly firm with attractive sweet fruit. Generously concentrated with a balanced framework of oak and tannin.
A massive wine, majestic in its proportions, combining power and grace in equal measure. Flavours of plum, blackberry, chocolate and pepper, with hints of cedar, liquorice and mint, swirl through the exotic finish. Tannins swarm but don't overwhelm the finish, which echoes all day and night. - Wine Spectator, 97 Points.
Full, deep red with ruby edges. Sweet, oaky, briary perfume of concentrated cassis/plum/blackberry aromas, with nuances of mint and cloves. Palate-staining dark fruits line the entirety of this long, powerful but slightly disjointed palate, which should find genuine balance into the future. Just needs time. Drink 2025-2035+. - Jeremy Oliver, 95 Points.
In the manner of all great stayers, has picked up pace markedly over the past year. Deeply coloured, ripe cherry, spice, vanilla and a hint of liquorice rumble through the bouquet; the palate is powerful and sustained by sweet tannins, the plum and black cherry fruit providing the core for the future. - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz 94%, Cabernet Sauvignon 6%
Country - Australia
Region - Barossa Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 1995
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
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