x
  • Country ranking ?

    215
  • Producer ranking ?

    144
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    now-2030
  • Food Pairing

    Roast lamb served medium-rare

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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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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Vintage 1988

Australia Vintage Report:  Below average rainfall through the growing season and storms and hail in October 1997 led to some yield losses. Parts of Eden Valley were also hit by Spring frosts which affected yields. This was followed by a warm dry summer, “an unhurried vintage” which produced reds of generally good quality but “forward, plain” whites.

In 1988 there were 5,468 hectares of vineyards in Barossa and 43,371 tonnes of wine grapes were crushed in that vintage.

Grape supply turned around dramatically with demand now exceeding supply, forcing grape prices up by an average of 20%. Chardonnay was in strong demand but Riesling demand dropped away.

The wine industry introduced the “Enjoy wine in moderation campaign” to head off health lobby criticisms.

Grant and Helen Burge started their own winery, Grant Burge Wines, in the old Moorooroo Cellars on the banks of Jacob’s Creek. Grant followed a five generation tradition started by English pioneer John Burge in 1855 of grapegrowing and winemaking. He also made the first vintage of Meshach Shiraz in 1988, a full bodied red wine sourced from old vine fruit, which was to become his company’s flagship and a multi-award winner.

In the same year, experienced wine marketer Bob McLean, whose career included brand development at Orlando and Petaluma, joined forces with fifth generation vigneron Karl Lindner and winemaker Stuart Blackwell to revitalise 44-year-old St Hallett Wines at Krondorf. St Hallett Old Block Shiraz was repositioned as a classic Barossa red wine.

Brian Walsh was appointed Chief Winemaker at Yalumba.
Senior management undertook a buy-out of Orlando Wines from Reckitt and Coleman.

Australia’s most successful membership based mail order wine club Cellarmaster Wines Pty Ltd established a winemaking and distribution base at Dorrien and opened Dorrien Estate winery (although there was no cellar door outlet).

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Tasting note

color

Medium, Ruby red and Clear

ending

Long, Gentle, Flavorful and Sharp

flavors

Blackberry, Tar, Mint, Smoky, Blueberry and Licorice

nose

Open, Complex, Opulent and Ripe

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, Warming, High tannin, Concentrated, Developing, Medium-bodied, Sharp, Harmonious and Dry

Written Notes

Ruby, garnet rim. Eucalyptus, spices, anise, liquorice, mint, ripe nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, dried fruits, cherries, raspberries, bit drying finish but layered and nuanced, long. Coffee. 94

  • 94p
Medium crimson. Lovely mocha/ redcurrant/ brambly/ roasted aromas with underlying vanilla/ menthol notes. Well concentrated wine with mocha/ demi-glace/ vanilla/ menthol flavours and savoury dry soupy tannins. Finishes chalky firm. 94% Shiraz 6% Cabernet Sauvignon Kalimna Vineyard (Barossa Valley), Barossa Valley, Padthaway, McLaren Vale. Ideal growing season followed by a warm dry vintage.
  • 86p
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Information

Origin

Magill, South Australia

Vintage Quality

Above Average

Value For Money

Satisfactory

Investment potential

Below Average

Fake factory

None

Glass time

2h

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Block 42 Kalimna Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

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Penfolds Bin 169

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Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz

Penfolds Bin 311

Penfolds Bin 407

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Penfolds Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz, California

Penfolds Bin 60A Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz

Penfolds Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Penfolds Bin 707

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Penfolds Great Grandfather's Tawny

Penfolds II Dourthe x Penfolds Cabernet Shiraz Merlot

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Penfolds Reserve Bin 09A Chardonnay

Penfolds RWT

Penfolds V

QoN

Rawson's Retreat

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Reserve Bin 17A Chardonnay

Reserve Bin 5A

Reserve Bin A

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RWT Shiraz

Special BIN 111A Shiraz

St Henri Shiraz

Thienot x Penfolds Blanc de Blancs Lot 2-175

Thienot x Penfolds Blanc de Noirs Lot 3-175

Thienot x Penfolds Brut Vintage Lot 1-175

Thomas Hyland Adelaide Hills Chardonnay

Thomas Hyland Sauvignon Blanc

'V' Chardonnay

Vintage Fortified

Yattarna Chardonnay

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