Grange Hermitage 1955 Penfolds

Latest Pro-tasting notes

<10 tasting notes

88p by Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine
17.5p by Jancis Robinson MW / BWW2024/Best Wine Critic of the World
18.5p by Julia Harding MW / BWW2024 Finalist
90p by Andrew Caillard MW / BWW2024 Finalist
96p by Jan-Erik Paulson / rare-Wine.com
90p by Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine

Tasting note

color

Mature

ending

Long, Smooth, Flavorful and Acidic

flavors

Blackcurrant, Coffee, Toasty, Cranberry, Vanilla and Smoky

nose

Intense, Opulent, Complex and Seductive

taste

Low in Acidity, Medium tannin, Multi-dimensional, Balanced, Medium-bodied, Round, Harmonious, Elegant and Dry

Written Notes

Donated by Peter Gago, Penfolds' chief winemaker. Made by Max Schubert, author of the Penfolds' winemaking style (eg multi-region blending, open-top fermenters and finishing fermentation in oak). First commercial vintage of Grange was 1952. This is 90% Shiraz, 10% Cabernet from multiple vineyards. Ray Beckwith (96 last year) was Penfolds' chemist and was instrumental in understanding the importance of a wine's pH for its long-term stability. This bottle had been recorked fairly recently.

Deeply coloured with a red tinge still showing in the brick colour. Some tomato leaf on the nose and also furniture polish and coffee but much more youthful than the Seppelt on the nose, with a sweeter fruit note. Still has some tannin texture. More volatile acidity evident. A little less silky than the Seppelt, some dryness beginning to show, leaving the acidity more marked. Very very long. With time in glass, slight farmyard smell. Falls away in the glass.

- Julia Harding MW / BWW2024 Finalist

90% Shiraz, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Magill Estate (Adelaide), Morphett Vale (Adelaide), Kalimna Vineyard (Barossa Valley), McLaren Vale blend.
Bottle 1: Acidity dominant. Different source. Fine and sweet but a bit mushroomy.
Bottle 2: Fading nose – rich and medicinal, Tarry note. Definitely fading. Dry finish and much less intense than I remember it from 1981! A gentle farewell… except that after two hours it grew in the glass to a wonderfully gamey, much richer and more winning and voluminous wine – miraculous!

- Jancis Robinson MW / BWW2024/Best Wine Critic of the World

Deep brick red. Coffee/ mocha/ gamy/ grilled meat aromas with some camomile/ leather notes. Sweet meaty/ gamy/ mocha/ dark berry flavours and soft – slightly sappy green tannins. The fruit is beginning to fade now. A famously great vintage. Now quite rare. 90% Shiraz 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Magill Estate (Adelaide) Morphett Vale (Adelaide) Kalimna Vineyard (Barossa Valley) McLaren Vale Blend. The most decorated Grange – winner of 12 trophies and 52 Gold medals on the Australian wine show circuit. Spent only 9 months in oak. A favourite of Max Schubert’s, partly because it won a gold medal in the open claret class at the 1962 Sydney Wine Show – some members of the judging panel had previously been vocally critical of the style. A mild to warm growing conditions – interrupted by above average rainfall. A warm dry vintage followed. Chosen by the US publication - Wine Spectator Magazine – as a “Wine of the Millenium”. Most common but later release (after show success) is Bin 95 (also Bins 13, 14, 53, 54 and 148A)

- Andrew Caillard MW / BWW2024 Finalist

Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1955 / Deep colour. Lots of eucalyptus on the nose. Very good fruit. Great concentration. Powerful. 96 pts

- Jan-Erik Paulson / rare-Wine.com

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