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Grange Hermitage 1953

Penfolds , South Australia, Australia

Penfolds
South Australia Australia
  • 99
    Points
  • The 410 best
    of 3 290 954
    wines globally
  • 7 Pros of
    7 recommend
    this wine
887 99
  • Taste
  • Moment

  • Country ranking ?

    13

  • Producer ranking ?

    8

  • Decanting time

    45min

  • When to drink

    now

  • Food Pairing

    Lamb Loin with Carrot Risotto

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Second vintage of Grange to be released commercially and the first to use grapes from Penfolds' prized Kalimna vineyard in the Barossa Valley. An exceptionally long-lived Grange. This wine is still drinking brilliantly well and is considered one of the best Granges ever produced. Bottles labelled Bin numbers 2, 10, 86C. One of three Grange vintages (1952 and 1962 are the others) produced in half (375ml) as well as full (750ml) bottles.

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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 cons...

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Wine Information

260 cases of this wine were produced. This is the first Grange to incorporate wine from the Kalimna region in the Barossa. This was a revelation. An astonishing, great wine with remarkable vigor and freshness, this wine has a dark garnet color with considerable amber at the edge. A sweet nose of mushrooms, roasted herbs, tar, red and black fruits, and underbrush is followed by a wine with considerable opulence, flesh, and vivacity. The wine ha...

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Average Bottle Price

2015 2013 2010 1995
23 789€ +8.3% 21 966€ +33.1% 16 500€ +685.7% 2 100€

This data comes from the FINE Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions in 20 countries. The average prices from each year have been collected since 1990. This chart plots the index value of the average price of the wines.

Tasting note

Verdict

Outstanding and Masterpiece

Written Notes

One might baulk at the price, if you could ever find it. auction average is A$14,000. No hiding that this is a mature wine but one which is still in fine condition. Brick red. Extraordinarily perfumed with an array of utterly beguiling and intriguing fragrances. There are notes of dry herbs, chocolate and licorice. Subtle cigar box notes. Old supple leather. Amazing stuff. A wonderfully complex wine with impressive concentration. Delightfully supple texture. There are meaty notes and hints of coffee grinds. There is a delightful sweetness to the wine. This still offers great length. It almost seemed as though it would never end. And I certainly didn't want it to. What a wine! The intensity is maintained throughout. The tannins are so satiny as to be almost transparent. Seamless. Peter Gago described this as the greatest Grange of all and a wine that “is still on a slight ascent”. Half a century has only enhanced its charms. Only 260 cases made. The fruit was sourced from Magill Estate, Morphett Vale (Adelaide) and Kalimna. It was a blend of 87% Shiraz and 13% Cabernet. 18 months in new American hogsheads. It was one of only three Granges ever put into halves – the others being 1952 and 1962. Prior to 1970, when all Granges became Bin 95, random numbers were used. This wine appeared under Bin 2, 10 and 86C. It was the second commercial release of Grange and the first to use fruit from the Kalimna Vineyard. As good as one could have hoped.
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  • 98p

Fruit from Magill, Morphett Vale, Kalimna – Barossa Valley. Dry, mild to warm weather followed a good growing season with a cool summer. 87% Shiraz, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14 months in new American oak hogsheads. pH 3.68. Although the wine now known as Bin 2 (Shiraz/Mourvèdre) was first released in 1960, bottles of the 1953 Grange were labelled Bin 2, 10 and 86C. Peter Gago thinks it’s better than the famous 1955, ‘Disguised Block 42’, he says.
Very dark blackish ruby. Shaded rim. Another era. Saddles yet freshness. Len Evans was a boy! This just vindicates great wine. So lively, sweet, long.

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  • 100p
Medium brick red. Lovely fresh Provençal herbs/ violet/ mocha/ apricot aromas with hint of demi-glace/ polished leather. Remarkable old wine with complex roosted meat/ herb garden/ polished leather flavours and slinky dry tannins. This is a great Australian wine and still drinking beautifully. Very rare. 87% Shiraz 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. Magill Estate/Morphett Vale (Adelaide) Kalimna Vineyard (Barossa) Blend. 260 cases made. Some half bottles (375ml) were released. First vintage – and then uninterrupted - use of Kalimna fruit – hence the term “Mother Vineyard”. Released as Bin 2 (also Bins 10, 86C and 145)
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  • 100p
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Information

Origin

Magill, South Australia

Grapes

13% Cabernet Sauvignon
87% Shiraz

Vintage Quality

Above Average

Value For Money

Good

Investment potential

Very Good

Fake factory

Serious

Glass time

30min

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Inside Information

First vintage to use grapes from the Kalimna vineyard

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