|
Australia |
1986 |
Penfolds Grange |
1 |
Bottle |
75cl |
Convert Price£425 |
Price ($)
NA
Drink Date
2009 - 2039
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
30th Jun 2009
Source
183, The Wine Advocate
One of my favorite wines from Penfolds, the 1986 (a blend of 87% Shiraz and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon) is one of the most powerful Granges produced (14+% alcohol). At age 23, it reminds me of the way it tasted around 9 years of age. Inky/purple to the rim with an extraordinary perfume of sweet licorice, crushed pepper, blackberry liqueur, camphor, and barbecue spices, this sensationally full-bodied, concentrated, layered 1986 is still an infant in terms of its ultimate potential. It is remarkable how this wine has aged, and it’s hard to believe how certain wine geeks will subscribe to the aging ability of the Grange, but don’t believe the same is true for other old vine Shiraz wines from the Barossa and McLaren Vale. It just doesn’t make any sense. The 1986 is one of the greatest Granges for my palate, and it appears to still have 25-30 years of upside. Grange, Penfolds’ flagship wine, is, by many accounts, the most renowned and world-famous wine produced in Australia, and these six vintages from my cellar all acquitted themselves well. These wines are almost always Shiraz, but many vintages include less than 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and there are cross-appellations blends from vineyards in the Barossa and McLaren Vale.
|
|
98 |
|
Australia |
1990 |
Penfolds Grange - owc |
2 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£4,500 |
Rating
94+
Release Price
NA
Drink Date
NA
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
30th Jun 2009
Source
183, The Wine Advocate
The 1990 performed well in the tasting, but, along with the 1980, was the least impressive of these Granges. The 1990 is loosely knit, seems to border on overripeness with its jammy character, and has a slightly more aggressive style of tannin ... or are the acids more pronounced? It is certainly outstanding, displaying full body along with a classic smoky, blackberry, cassis, pepper, and forest floor-scented bouquet. Of all these wines, it appears to be the most evolved. Grange, Penfolds’ flagship wine, is, by many accounts, the most renowned and world-famous wine produced in Australia, and these six vintages from my cellar all acquitted themselves well. These wines are almost always Shiraz, but many vintages include less than 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and there are cross-appellations blends from vineyards in the Barossa and McLaren Vale.
|
|
94 |
|
Australia |
1995 |
Cyril Henschke Cabernet - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£260 |
|
|
|
|
Australia |
1995 |
Cyril Henschke Cab 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£290 |
|
|
|
|
Australia |
1998 |
Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£450 |
Rating:
94
Price ($)
$78
Drink Date
2002 - 2018
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
30th Oct 2002
Source
143, The Wine Advocate
It's a no-brainer with respect to the dense purple-colored 1998 Shiraz Stonewell. The wine is inky/purple-colored, with oodles of blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with hints of honeysuckle, wood, earth, and pepper. This full-throttle, majestic offering is super-concentrated and rich, with a wealth of glycerin, fruit, and extract. There is plenty of tannin lurking under the surface, but it is nearly obscured by the wine's exceptional depth. Anticipated maturity: now-2018.
|
|
94 |
|
Australia |
1999 |
Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£260 |
Rating:
96
Price ($)
$75
Drink Date
2005 - 2025
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
23rd Aug 2003
Source
148, The Wine Advocate
Made from 100% Shiraz, the massive, full-bodied 1999 Octavius continues the succession of profound efforts from Yalumba. Tremendously rich, intense, and multidimensional, it offers up notes of blackberries, sweet smoke, and melted asphalt. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.
|
|
96 |
|
Australia |
1999 |
Dead Arm Shiraz - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£270 |
96
Price ($)
$65
Drink Date
2005 - 2032
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
30th Oct 2002
Source
143, The Wine Advocate
This estate's most renowned offering is their old vine Shiraz (90+ year old vines) called The Dead Arm. The unfined/unfiltered 1999 The Dead Arm Shiraz (2,000 cases) was aged in 100% new oak, of which 70% was American and 30% French. It is about as natural and unmanipulated a product of the vineyard as one can find. Full-bodied and awesomely rich, notes of black pepper, licorice, and blackberry as well as cherry liqueur cascade over the palate with enormous concentration and intensity, high tannin, and a structured, muscular style. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring, and consume it over the following 2-3 decades. It is a timeless museum piece made in a style that can only be produced in Barossa or McLaren Vale.
|
|
96 |
|
Australia |
2001 |
Dead Arm Shiraz - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£270 |
98
Price ($)
$65
Drink Date
2008 - 2033
Reviewed by
Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Issue Date
23rd Aug 2003
Source
148, The Wine Advocate
Readers should be on the look out for the 2001 The Dead Arm Shiraz, one of the greatest examples of this cuvee. Its dense black/purple color is accompanied by celestial aromas of melted licorice, graphite, blackberries, cassis, incense, anise, and toasty oak. Fabulously concentrated, with great purity, an unctuous, viscous texture, and an amazingly long, 60-second plus finish, this fabulous baby will need 5-6 years of cellaring, and should drink well over the following 20-25 years. Chester Osborn, the remarkable person behind this enormous array of both impeccably high quality and value-priced wines, deserves considerable accolades for what he is able to achieve at all price ranges. If you love Australian wines, d’Arenberg is a winery to seek out as these offerings all possess abundant soul as well as character. In short, the accolades that proprietor/winemaker Chester Osborn receives not only from The Wine Advocate, but virtually everybody in the wine world, are all well deserved.
|
|
98 |
|
Australia |
2003 |
Ten Minutes by Tractor Pinot Noir - 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£125 |
|
|
|
|
Australia |
2003 |
Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£520 |
From the famed Magill Estate in Adelaide, the 2003 Shiraz Magill Estate was aged 14 months in a combination of 64% new French and 36% new American 300 liter hogsheads. The 20th vintage of this cuvee, it represents this estate’s commitment to single vineyard Shiraz since it is made from the original 12+ acre vineyard that was established in 1844. A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a glorious perfume of graphite, acacia flowers, and toasty oak. The wine hits the palate with a plethora of flavors, including chocolate, spice box, fruit cake, black raspberries, blueberries, and cassis. Powerful yet elegant and streamlined, this beauty is one of my favorite examples of this wine to date. It should drink well for 15 or more years.
|
|
94 |
|
Australia |
2004 |
Penfolds Grange - owc 6x75 |
1 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£2,100 |
In Asia
May 2012 Lisa Perrotti-Brown 98 Drink: 2015 - 2035 $304-$530
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2004 Penfolds Grange offers a profound nose of black cherries, creme de cassis licorice and dark chocolate with suggestions of cedar and violets. Full bodied, ripe and voluptuous in the mouth, the generous flesh is well supported by medium to high acidity and a firm level of finely grained tannins, finishing long. It's seductively approachable now but has much more to give and should drink best 2015 to 2035+.
|
|
98 |
|
Australia |
2008 |
Penfolds Grange - owc 6x75 |
2 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£2,200 |
A towering Cabernet, tightly wrapping its supple, expressive core of currant and boysenberry with subtle hints of cream, espresso and dried herbs, flowing seamlessly into the long and vivid finish. Offers depth and power without apparent weight. A knockout. Best from 2015 through 2030. Score: 100
|
|
100 |
|
Australia |
2011 |
Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay |
3 |
Case |
75cl |
Convert Price£850 |
Aged in 64% new oak with 95% of the fruit sourced from Tasmania, the 2011 Yattarna Chardonnay is a little closed with subtle apple and white peach aromas accentuated by touches of lemon peel and cream, plus a whiff of struck match. Light to medium-bodied, the palate has a fantastic, satiny texture that is concentrated though remains very tight and crisp at this stage. It finishes long. Drink 2015 to 2020+. Score: 94+
|
|
94 |
