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James Suckling 93 points
A well-executed Grange in what must have been a stressful vintage, this has some good richness and concentration, the oak sits cedary but fruit is up to the task, dark berries in all shapes and sizes here, cola and sarsaparilla too, redder nuances, vanillin and liquorice. The palate's built in layers, really deep-set concentrated powerful fruit with some measure, good balance and depth, stylishly tailored structure and a polite, measured finish. Not a blockbuster in Grange terms, but this is a very good wine with clear Penfolds DNA. Balanced, not forced, Mr. Gago defintely gets an A for effort here. Best after 2023.
Wine Description
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.
Wine Information
Vintage 2011 / With above-average winter rainfalls and cool conditions that followed during the spring period, South Australian regions generally experienced a later budburst and viticultural pressures impacted to varying degrees across the state. Meticulous vineyard management was critical. Spring soil moisture levels resulted in healthy shoot growth and early canopy development. Healthy vegetative growth continued during the cooler spring months and delayed veraison and berry development in the New Year. A few warm days at the end of January guaranteed the completion of veraison and commencement of the ripening season. Careful canopy management across vineyards including Magill Estate ensured good light penetration into the fruit zone. With a focus on warmer regions, McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley fruit sourcing prevailed. Whilst rain events are documented, they were often isolated, and attention to detail was required with selective harvesting of pristine fruit