-
98
/ 100
James Halliday -
98
/ 100
Andrew Caillard MW -
98
/ 100
Jeni Port - Wine Pilot -
97
/ 100
Campbell Mattinson -
97
/ 100
Huon Hooke
Red
Classification
Shiraz
Variety
2020
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
South Australia, Barossa Valley
Region
14.5%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
98 / 100"A blend of 97/3% shiraz/cabernet sauvignon; matured for 20 months in 100% new American oak. As Peter Gago says, "Penfolds' 180th anniversary year, following a series of stellar Grange vintages in 2002, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 ... No pressure." He needn't have worried. The 2020 release is stunning. Its heady concentration and initial rush of formic herald its arrival. There's a singularity of aroma and flavour in strong Grange releases and that is certainly the case here. Deep-set blackberry, black plum and black cherry fruits of great intensity. Hints of brandied fruits, blackforest cake, dark chocolate, licorice, graphite, roasting meats, fruitcake spice, sandalwood, oak spice and turned earth. Densely packed and strong of character with a cascade of fine tannin and plenty of muscular swagger as the wine slowly tapers off with a vapour trail of black fruits, baking spices and earth. A great Grange release."
- James Halliday
98 / 100
"The classical and beautiful 2020 Grange, with its abundant dark berry fruits, massive concentration, oak maturation characters and well-integrated chocolaty tannins. possesses the detail and hallmarks of a First Growth Australian red. It has all the cadence and balance for long term aging. In years to come, it may be seen as one of the great vintages."
- Andrew Caillard MW
98 / 100
"An interesting wine given the fact that there was no Bin 707 or Bin 169 – both cabernets – made in 2020. Clearly, shiraz figured better across South Australia in that heat wave year in which the Barossa recorded its driest year on record. The Barossa Valley joins McLaren Vale and the Clare Valley in the 2020 Grange, which is 97% shiraz with a 3% smidge of cabernet. It saw 20 months in new American hogsheads. A warm-hearted Grange to be sure, rich and full of drive as might be expected, but with the warmth of 2020 comes some lovely, gentle aromatics which brings that touch of finesse. You could say 2020 is more opulent and slightly less muscular for Grange. Deep aromas of ripe dark, blue berries with plum cake, spice, dark chocolate, sweet oak spice, dried orange peel and mahogany with attractive, lifted star anise, sage, bay leaf. Combines the basic mechanics of plush, velvety tannins and vanillin, warm oak support, but the palate explores further the depth of some gorgeous fruits and spice, textures, layers and budding complexity. It’s all ready to go and will keep building over the years ahead. Maybe not a classic Grange, but one not to be under-estimated."
- Jeni Port - Wine Pilot
97 / 100
"97% Shiraz, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. 20 months in 100% new American oak. For reviews of every Penfolds Grange ever made, click here. Grapes for the 2020 Penfolds Grange Shiraz release were sourced from the McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and Clare Valley regions. Mint and crushed ants up front. Saturated plums, meat, woodsmoke, more ants, more crushed woodsy spices, a rusty seaweed character in among the vanilla and cedar. The tannin is a broad, powerful, commanding brush, full throttle, fully integrated. It’s not a heralded vintage necessarily but it turns out to have been a good thing; it’s not a show pony, it’s not a wall of sound, it’s Grange being Grange, authoritative, settled, the ants served crushed, the fruit deep. This release of Penfolds Grange feels true to itself; and as a result it’s seriously good."
- Campbell Mattinson
97 / 100
"Very deep, dense red-purple colour; aromas of earthy terracotta, dried meats, blackberry/plum jam and mocha/coffee grounds. The wine is massively full-bodied and dense in the mouth, rich and robust, extremely concentrated and the chewy tannins stick the tongue to the roof of the mouth. The finish lingers for a very long time. It's an assault on the senses and demands a lot of cellar time. (McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley & Clare Valley. 20 months in 100% new American oak hogsheads) 03 JUL 2024"
- Huon Hooke
Tasting Notes
The wine was first created in 1951 by Max Schubert, a winemaker at Penfolds. Schubert was inspired by the great red wines of Europe, and he wanted to create a wine that would showcase the unique qualities of Australian Shiraz.
Grange is made from a blend of Shiraz grapes from different vineyards in South Australia. The grapes are fermented and aged in oak barrels for at least 18 months. The wine is then released after a further period of maturation in bottle.
Grange is a full-bodied wine with a complex flavor profile. It typically has aromas of black fruits, spices, and oak. The palate is rich and structured, with firm tannins and a long finish.
Grange was recently recognised as a First Growth in Liv-ex’s recreation of the Bordeaux 1855 classification.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity