Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 1997
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.
The Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 1997 is a wine that immediately engages the senses with its deep, crimson red color and dense ruby core. On the nose, this wine offers wafts of nutmeg and ginger, with notes of blueberry and blackcurrant and a background of well-seasoned savory oak. With aeration, the fruit gains more subtle perfume and chestnut complexities, making it a truly delightful experience. On the palate, this wine is already showing excellent balance within the frame of a beautifully interwoven mesh of dark plum and blackberry fruits with fig and liquorice. The complex fruit and spice flavors sit against a finely focused backdrop of firm but rounded tannins. The Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 1997 is a wine that showcases the best of Australian winemaking. Its complex flavors and aromas, combined with its firm yet rounded tannins, make it a perfect pairing for a variety of dishes or a delightful experience on its own.
The 1997 Grange (a blend of 96% Shiraz and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon) looks to be a classic Grange, although slightly softer and more forward than the backward 1996. The saturated purple-colored 1997 offers a gorgeously sweet nose of blackberry liqueur, cherries, camphor, chocolate, plums, and mocha. The wine is opulently-textured, extremely soft, layered, and seductive, with Grange's tell-tale personality well-displayed, but in a seamless, seductive style. This is a superb Grange that can hold its own against the more heralded 1996. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, 94 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz 96%, Cabernet Sauvignon 4%
Country - Australia
Region - Barossa Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 1997
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14%
Closure - Cork