x
  • Country ranking ?

    77
  • Producer ranking ?

    42
  • Decanting time

    3h
  • When to drink

    now to 2040
  • Food Pairing

    Lamb

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines reviewed over the previous 12 months and select our Top 100, based on quality, value, availability and excitement. This annual list honors successful wineries, regions and vintages around the world.

Grange 1990 was the Wine of the Year in 1995

Amazingly ripe, rich and opulent, with layers of earthy currant, black cherry and anise flavors that are smooth and supple. The silky texture leads into a long, lingering aftertaste that offers echoes of fruit. The tannins are fine but substantial enough to age. Try from 1997 to 2005. 8,000 cases made. —97 points

 

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The Story

Grange is arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Grange boasts an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951 and clearly demonstrates the synergy between Shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia. Grange utilises fully-ripe, intensely-flavoured and textured 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. The Grange style is the original and most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district, blending philosophy.

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Wine Information

From the 1990 vintage, Grange Hermitage will be labelled simply ‘Grange’ - the name by which it has been known internationally for many years. It is an icon that symbolises Australian quality wine at its highest level. History will record 1990 as one of the great Australian vintages of our generation. The 1990 Penfolds Grange is one of the best yet, with the potential to eventually rival the classic vintages of 1955, 1962 and 1971. Sourced from premium vineyards in South Australia, the 1990 Penfolds Grange is predominantly  Shiraz (Hermitage) with a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. With its solid structure and strength of character it will age gracefully and should be carefully cellared for a bare minimum of 10 years, and preferably 25 to 30.

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Tasting note

color

Full, Ruby red and Clear

ending

Long, Spicy and Lingering

flavors

Blackberry, Toasty, Cedar, Herbs, Blackcurrant and Leather

nose

Youthful, Complex, Opulent and Seductive

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, Medium tannin, Concentrated, Balanced, Well-Integrated, Developing, Full-bodied, Ripe, Fresh, Firm, Dry and Drying tannins

Verdict

Transparent and Exotic

Written Notes

Ruby with thin brick rim. Liquorice and mint, detailed, layered and cassis, blueberries and spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, liquorice, detailed, intense, spices, nuanced and layered, long. 95

  • 95p

Fruit from Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Coonawarra. A totally trouble-free growing season enabled grapes to ripen perfectly. Vintage conditions were also ideal, enabling fruit to be harvested and processed without compromising quality in any way. 95% Shiraz, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 18 months in new American oak hogsheads. pH 3.36, TA 7.1 g/l.
Big rich dusty. Cusp of drinkability. Easy molten wine gums. Very satisfying.

  • 93p

Penfolds Grange 1990 / Destined to be one of the greatest Granges. A beautifully weighted and concentrated bouquet, with seamless fruit and oak; masses of dark cherries and plum. In the mouth a superb wine; while the fruit is opulent, it is not excessively so; indeed there is a touch of near austerity to the fine tannins to give the wine both character and balance. The iron fist in a velvet glove.

  • 97p

Penfolds Grange 1990 / 95% Shiraz, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.Smoky coffee and cassis and a little herbal and just a touch leathery. Much more evolved than the 1991. Fine grained and more elegant tannins than the 1986. Fine grip and freshness, dry but not drying. Long and rich and satisfying. (JH)

  • 95p
Deep crimson. An ethereal wine with blackberry/ plum/ chocolate/ liquorice aromas and plenty of mocha/ malt oak notes. A rich ripe immensely concentrated wine with generous sweet blackberry/ plum/ dark chocolate flavours, mocha oak, some earthy flavours and velvety smooth tannins. Finishes long and chocolaty. A superb Grange 95% Shiraz 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Kalimna Vineyard (Barossa Valley), Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Coonawarra Blend. Voted Red Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator magazine in December 1995. A very great Australian vintage with a perfect warm dry growing season and harvest.
  • 97p
Good looking normal size bottle, in an good condition and has bottom neck level. Colour is ruby red, and looking healthy, full and mature. On the nose it is intense, refined, generous and tempting. The taste is full, ripe, perfumed, firm, full-bodied, with well-integrated, balanced and concentrated structure. On the palate it is layered and has mineral, herbs, cedar, tobacco, leather, white fruits, truffles and cassis flavours. The finish is long, extensive, flavorful and vibrant. This wine is transparent, exotic and outstanding. I paid around 1k-3k€ a bottle. Perfectly stored bottles are still very worthy and will last well for another 20-30 years and decant at least 2h before tasting. Good value for money.
- (Tasting note created by Tb's AI)
  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Magill, South Australia

Vintage Quality

Outstanding

Value For Money

Good

Investment potential

Below Average

Fake factory

None

Glass time

2h

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Inside Information

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-brick colored, the 1990 Penfolds Grange has an evolved, earthy character of damp loam, black truffles and tar with an underlying core of figs, dried mulberries, salami and aniseed. There's a good amount of savory flesh supported by a crisp acid line and medium to firm level chewy tannins, finishing long with some smoked meat coming through. Drink this one now to 2020+.

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