Penfolds 'Grange' South Australia Shiraz 2017

Winery Notes
The most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district blending philosophy, Grange is arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. 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.

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Tasting Notes
Color: Dense and deep, bright and lively crimson-red Nose: Rampant scents derived from kitchen (winery) and garden (vineyard) … A wine-loving forensic sniff or two reveals: Venison carpaccio with a sweet balsamic reduction and olive oil. Or, uncured pastrami? A salsa verde type-emulsion with an emphasis on the parsley and extra virgin olive oil. Wafts of sticky rice pudding, apricot pip, vanillin pod and coconut husk. Spiced sandalwood, ground cumin and wintergreen notes remind of an eighteen-month sabbatical in oak. Palate: An advancing wave of flavours, understated power and charm. The swell builds and a more persuasive wave follows …and then more, with each sip. The flavours: Laden with shiraz fruits from the Barossa to the North and McLaren to the South - ‘maritime’ and ‘continental’ climatic/varietal diversity. Liquorice, soy and malt, burnt vanilla marshmallow …Dark chocolate, wrapped in a satiny candle-like coating. Supple oak nuances - dexterously integrated, no doubt compliments of barrel ferment. The texture: Creamy/velvety, tannins are tight with a ‘rusty’ edge. Ebullient acidity, whilst lively and racy, is well-managed.

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Vintage Notes
South Australia's wine regions experienced a cool and relatively wet winter and spring. Growers rejoiced as rainfall records were broken across parts of the state, Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale were well above winter long-term averages (122mm and 81mm respectively). This set the vines up with plentiful soil moisture profiles for the growing season and mitigated the need for irrigation. October was breezy, which challenged fruit-set, however the wind held off any potential frost events in the Barossa Valley vineyards. Cool conditions extended the growing season with flowering and veraison both later than expected. No heatwaves were recorded during summer and only a handful of days surpassed 40°C. Summer rainfall was above the long-term average, which helped to delay harvest. Drier and warmer weather prevailed in March, optimal conditions for grapes to finish ripening, develop deep colour and present strong varietal character. Harvest for shiraz grapes commence mid-March, a month later than the previous year.

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Vineyard Notes

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Winemaking Notes