Penfolds Grange 1986 (Re-Corking Clinics 2004) 750ml

Wine Advocate #183 Jun 2009
One of my favorite wines from Penfolds, the 1986 (a blend of 87% Shiraz and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon) is one of the most powerful Granges produced (14+% alcohol). At age 23, it reminds me of the way it tasted around 9 years of age. Inky/purple to the rim with an extraordinary perfume of sweet licorice, crushed pepper, blackberry liqueur, camphor, and barbecue spices, this sensationally full-bodied, concentrated, layered 1986 is still an infant in terms of its ultimate potential. It is remarkable how this wine has aged, and it’s hard to believe how certain wine geeks will subscribe to the aging ability of the Grange, but don’t believe the same is true for other old vine Shiraz wines from the Barossa and McLaren Vale. It just doesn’t make any sense. The 1986 is one of the greatest Granges for my palate, and it appears to still have 25-30 years of upside.

With over 165 years of winemaking experience, the Penfolds winemaking tradition is both firmly established and well proven. It is a way of life; no more evident than in the fact that most members of the winemaking team have worked over twenty vintages each at Penfolds.
Experience has created a tradition of excellence, which in turn has led to the production of quality Australian wines, recognised the world over.
Penfolds has managed to create a truly unique and distinctive winemaking signature the 'Penfolds stamp', of which every member of the Penfolds winemaking team is immensely and justifiably proud.
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. Penfolds 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.

Meats, Beef and Venison