EPIC PENFOLDS TASTING
Tastingbook tasted 140 Best Wines from 2002-2023
"The wines have spoken. Epic tastings with some spectacular results! And, so many of these Penfolds wines will blossom in the years ahead!” PeterGago, Penfolds.
Organized by Tastingbook.com, the grand Penfolds tasting (2002–2024) encompassing over 130 wines proved to be an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime milestone even for the most seasoned wine critics. Last Fridays' Part II of the event delivered a breathtaking demonstration of Australian winemaking at its absolute zenith: not a single bottle fell below 90 points, and the average score soared to an astonishing 95 points.
When combined with the iconic Part I—which delved into two decades of legendary Grange and Yattarna releases alongside the mythic Grange La Chapelle—the overall average across the entire tasting rose to an unprecedented 96+ points. It stands as an unrivaled, almost surreal achievement that firmly cements Penfolds’ standing among the premier elite producers of global fine wine.
The Heritage of Part I: The Peerless Splendor of Grange, Yattarna, and Grange La Chapelle
The opening movement was anchored by the house’s crown jewels, where generational tradition meets uncompromised structural precision:
- Grange (2002–2022): Australia’s ultimate wine icon demonstrated majestic power and endless cellaring potential. Deep, concentrated dark fruit, spice, and opulent layers of American oak melted into a seamless tannic framework, making every vintage a distinct masterwork.
- Yattarna: The house "White Grange" showcased cool-climate Chardonnay purity at its peak—anchored by vibrant mineral tension, citrus precision, and subtle, integrated oak toast.
- Grange La Chapelle (2021 & 2022): A true phenomenon in modern fine wine, reuniting the muscular South Australian Shiraz of Grange with the silky, granite-driven Northern Rhône Syrah of Hermitage La Chapelle in a 50/50 cross-hemispheric union. The result was a monumental 98–100 point hyper-blend that harmonized two legendary winemaking traditions.
The Richness of Part II: Bin Series Classics, Oak Refinement, and Global Icons
In Part II, the lens widened across Penfolds’ diverse international lineup, where every single label offered a distinct, bespoke identity:
- RWT / Bin 798 vs. St Henri: The unctuous blackberry, violet florality, and French oak richness of Barossa Shiraz in RWT provided a striking counterpoint to St Henri, whose pure fruit clarity matured exclusively in 50-year-old oak vats without a shred of new wood influence.
- Bin 169 & Bin 389: The aristocratic, graphite-driven Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon of Bin 169 stood shoulder-to-shoulder with "Baby Grange" (Bin 389), whose multi-regional Cabernet and Shiraz blend delivered its signature balance of power and sweet American oak frame.
- Global Boundary Crossings: The French Winemaking Trial (FWT 585 Médoc), Napa Valley's Bin 704, and Chinese CWT 521 (Shangri-La & Ningxia) proved how seamlessly Penfolds’ house style translates to international terroirs. Meanwhile, transatlantic "Wines of the World" Bin 149 and Quantum Bin 98 fused Napa Cabernet with Australian muscle.
- Rare Commemoratives: The tasting reached its peak with rare, 100-point historic releases—including g5 (a seamless blend of five distinct Grange vintages), the 175th-anniversary Special Bin 111A, and the 180th-anniversary Coonawarra Bin 180.
This historic tasting was more than a benchmark review—it was a definitive statement on Penfolds’ place in the pantheon of fine wine. Spanning over 130 wines from 2002 to 2023 with an astounding average score around 96 points, it proved that the legendary Penfolds "House Style" is virtually peerless in its consistency, longevity, and structural precision. The event demonstrated that Penfolds can honor its rich Heritage Flagships while effortlessly crossing borders into Bordeaux, Napa Valley, and China. Looking ahead, this collection proves that Penfolds is not merely a custodian of South Australian tradition, but a relentless pioneer shaping the future of global fine wine for generations to come.
Tasting results - all the wines and points -click here!
