Latest news with #PenfoldsGrange
Sky News AU
31-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
New $1,000 Penfolds Grange 2021 lauded by top global wine critic as 'close to perfect'
Penfolds Grange is still knocking them dead, with critics in the UK, Europe, the US and Australia awarding the latest release 100 points. International scribe Ken Gargett set the tone when he said the Penfolds Grange 2021 ($1,000) 'simply dances with joy'. 'This is as close to a perfect Grange as I can imagine,' he said. Gargett's reviews are published in Wine Pilot, World of Fine Wine and Quill and Pad. He added: 'One simply gets lost in the nose, just endlessly sniffing the most glorious cassis notes, along with black fruits, blueberries, coffee beans, aniseed, mulberries, delicatessen meats, tobacco leaves, plums and graphite. 'The wine is seamless, intense and immaculate with knife-edge balance.' Other scribes who gave it top scores include Australians Tony Love, Nick Stock and Lisa Perrotti-Brown in California, Anders Enquiest in Sweden, Wilfred Wong in San Francisco and André Kunz in Switzerland. This shows the wine's global reach. It's a genuine collectable and a triumph for chief winemaker Peter Gago and his team. The accolades can only enhance Australia's reputation abroad as a producer of high-quality wine - with a halo effect for our food, especially beef. Master of Wine Andrew Caillard, the author of The Australian Ark, The Story of Australian Wine from 1788 to the Modern Era, gave the Grange 98 points. 'In the end it is a lovely wine that exemplifies the character, beauty and potential longevity of Grange,' he told me. Penfolds Grange has appeared every year since 1951 and is routinely released as a four-year-old. The vintage of Penfolds Grange released today is therefore the 2021. In South Australia it carries the official Heritage Icon status. The Grange sits at the top of an exceptional 24 wines from Australia, the US, France and China that will be publicly available from August 7. And there was an exciting newcomer on the Penfolds hit parade this year. It was made in Bordeaux as part of Penfolds French winemaking trials. Penfolds 2022 FWT 543 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah ($100) is a union of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz is deeply woven into the Penfolds story, Mr Gago said. The blend defines some of the winemakers' most notable wines, including Bin 389, Bin 600, and the limited release Bin 180 made to celebrate Penfolds 180 years, and Superblend 802 A and Superblend 802 B. 'It works. Using a 65-year-old Bin 389 style template, the immediate acceptance of the inaugural 2018 Bin 600 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz from California – championed by winemakers, Steph Dutton and Andrew Balwin – emboldened our French team,' Mr Gago said. 'Not to be outdone, winemaker Shauna Bastow has propelled a French trialling first, the 2022 FWT 543 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah, into this collection. 'Over time, and with brave sourcing and winemaking ambition, we await its ascent to Bin status.' It is a sumptuous blend containing 52 percent cabernet sauvignon and 48 percent syrah (shiraz). I scored it 97 points. The Grange overshadows some of the other outstanding wines in this collection, especially the Penfolds 2023 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon ($800). I scored it 97 points. It is a multi-regional blend with fruit sourced from McLaren Vale, Padthaway and the Barossa Valley, and was matured in new American oak hogsheads for 18 months. This is an immaculate wine with gorgeous florals, blackcurrants, cherry, tobacco and pepper aromas ahead of a multi-layered palate with more cherry and blackcurrant plus mulberry, spiced plum and a hint of dark chocolate. I gave 96 points to Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz 2023 ($100) described by Penfolds winemaker Shavaughn Wells as 'a bold, full bodied shiraz expression with structured tannins and a bright acidity'. It has a panoply of aromas and flavours from charred meats and olive tapenade to sweet plums and chocolate all framed with a mix of new and old French and American oak. Some others include Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz 2023 ($50) which scored 94 points and has a ripe and generous warm climate of Australian shiraz. Age Worthy. There's the Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2023 ($120, 95 points). It's a multi-regional blend exemplifying Penfolds' 'house style' with opulent fruit matured in American oak. Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2022 ($135.) Points 97. A classic. Perfect colour. Plush and rich. Minimal oak. The wine the winemakers drink. Max Schubert made the first experimental Grange in 1951. John Davoren followed suit with St Henri in 1953. Winemaker Steph Dutton says this vintage will gain soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz 2023 ($180) Points 96. A true monopole. Fruit from the original estate established in 1844 just 8km from the Adelaide GPO. Matured in the same wax-lined open fermenters Max Schubert once used to craft Grange. Black fruits, savoury tannins. A juicy, savoury complexity. Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2023 ($220). Points 96. A contemporary expression of Barossa Shiraz in contrast to the more muscular Grange. Aromas of blueberries and mulberries billow from the glass. A subtle floral note of violets emerges intermingled with cedar and sandalwood. Tasting notes speak of plummy black fruits, pepper spices, cherry-infused chocolate and a hint of cola. From the third vintage of the China wine trials comes Penfolds CWT521 Cabernet Sauvignon Marselan 2023 ($150) Points 94. The blend 89 per cent cabernet sauvignon from the high-altitude vineyards of Shangri-La and 11 per cent marselan from Ningxia. The marselan grape is a crossing of cabernet sauvignon and grenache. In autumn the vines are buried to protect them from the harsh winters. Penfolds Yattarna Bin 144 Chardonnay 2023 ($220). I gave it 98 points; the same score I gave the Grange in this column last week. A monumental wine with superb fruit complexity. Our answer to white Burgundy. Yattarna is the winery's flagship white made by senior winemaker Kym Schroeter with fruit from three states. From White Hill and the Coal River valley in Tasmania, Tumbarumba in the NSW high country and the Adelaide Hills in South Australia.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The verdict on the new Grange is in, but it's $1000. Should you splash the cash?
When Penfolds releases its anticipated 2025 Collection on August 7, fine wine collectors around the globe will start to wonder if its biggest star, the coveted 2021 Grange, is worth forking out for. The multi-vintage, multi-vineyard South Australian red is one of the most collectable wines in the world, and the 2021 has a price tag of $1000. So, is it worth the big bucks? The answer is maybe, but it depends on how much patience you possess. If you don't mind holding on to it for a couple of decades and then selling it, the return on investment could prove fruitful. The first Penfolds Grange vintage was 1951 and has been known to fetch more than $150,000 at auction. A full set of Penfolds Bin Grange from the 1951 to 2018 vintages fetched a record $430,000 at the Penfolds Rewards of Patience Auction hosted by Langtons in 2022.
The Age
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
The verdict on the new Grange is in, but it's $1000. Should you splash the cash?
When Penfolds releases its anticipated 2025 Collection on August 7, fine wine collectors around the globe will start to wonder if its biggest star, the coveted 2021 Grange, is worth forking out for. The multi-vintage, multi-vineyard South Australian red is one of the most collectable wines in the world, and the 2021 has a price tag of $1000. So, is it worth the big bucks? The answer is maybe, but it depends on how much patience you possess. If you don't mind holding on to it for a couple of decades and then selling it, the return on investment could prove fruitful. The first Penfolds Grange vintage was 1951 and has been known to fetch more than $150,000 at auction. A full set of Penfolds Bin Grange from the 1951 to 2018 vintages fetched a record $430,000 at the Penfolds Rewards of Patience Auction hosted by Langtons in 2022.
What's On
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Penfolds to host exclusive wine dinner in the Lana Hotel, Dubai - What's On
An exclusive, one-night-only event is about to take place by Penfolds, one of Australia's most prestigious wine estates and if you're into good wine and great food, you'll need to check it out. Taking place on Thursday, June 26 in Jara by Martín Berasategui, and located at ultra-luxury hotel, The Lana – Dorchester Collection, this special dinner will also have a very special guest. The acclaimed contemporary Basque restaurant in the Lana will welcome Penfolds' chief winemaker, Peter Gago, for his first visit to the UAE in over a decade. This intimate evening promises an extraordinary culinary experience, priced at Dhs2,588 per person. The six-course tasting menu curated by Martín Berasategui himself will begin at 7.30pm, with each dish artfully paired with some of Penfolds' most celebrated wines. The evening will showcase highlights from the Luxury and Icon collections, including rare tastings of two legendary vintages of Penfolds Grange – 1983 and 1991. The dinner will also feature other outstanding labels, such as the crisp Yattarna Chardonnay, the elegant Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, and the bold RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz. St Henri Shiraz and Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon will round out the evening's wine offerings, each perfectly matched to the refined Basque dishes designed to complement their flavor profiles. You'll get a rare opportunity to explore the depth and heritage of Penfolds under the guidance of one of the wine world's most respected figures. Seats are extremely limited, and advanced reservations are required. Bookings can be made through this link. In a nod to the brand's global innovation, Penfolds has also recently debuted the Grange La Chapelle 2021, a rare collaboration with Domaine de La Chapelle, now available in the UAE. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
West Australian
05-06-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
The Snitch: What losing Tasmania as 19th AFL club could mean for Fremantle Dockers
The Snitch is a proud 'yes' man. I only ever vote yes in referendums despite our country's historical lean to a no. It's just my positive nature. Ask Mrs Snitch. I always find it hard to say 'no' to anything my dear lady requests, whether it was the peculiar mix of Penfolds Grange and Devils on Horseback at our wedding reception at El Caballo Blanco, or her insistence we ride to the chapel in a racing green Dymaxion replica. So I have been flummoxed with with all of this pushback from Tasmanians on having an AFL team. It's all so negative and small-town minded. The thought of missing out on a stadium, and therefore a team, because of political squabbling and local myopia, has brought Tasmanian's finest footy players to tears this week. Why wouldn't you want an AFL team in your State? Yes, Tassie's greatest tourism asset lies in its diverse landscape and rich history, from Cradle Mountain to Port Arthur, but this would surely ramp it up a notch. If I am honest, only one good thing will come from a team not landing in Van Diemen's Land and that would be the likelihood Alex Pearce would remain at Fremantle for the duration of his career. Alex has Palawa heritage and grew up in Ulverstone on Tassie's north coast. He'll be 31 by Tasmania's intended AFL debut in 2028, but would be just the type of experienced and balanced footballer and all-round good chap the Devils would be looking for to lead their inaugural team. The transformation of the ugly Macquarie Point Sewage Treatment Plant into a boutique stadium worth a few Tassie truffles short of $1 billion has poured new salt on to old north v south wounds in the State. On Thursday, Tasmania's Liberal Party Premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a vote of no confidence over a looming $1 billion budget deficit and will now call a snap election. The deficit and now the election mean the AFL team is in doubt given the league has made the new roofed stadium a condition of a 19th licence. Media giant Eddie McGuire summed it up best when he said: 'What Tasmania doesn't need is every week to have an advertisement that they are a second-rate state. I think Tasmania deserves to be finally seen for the great state that it is.' He's right. If they want to remain blissfully second rate, then we have to let them. It's their call. They are busy subversives Tasmanians, just like West Aussies, after all. Remember, Tassie is an actual island. We are like one given our distance from the east. Which brings me to my favourite Tassie story and a perfect segue out of this misery. Back in 1982, the Commonwealth Games opened in Brisbane to great fanfare. Matilda the giant kangaroo was the centrepiece as she circled the QEII Stadium, winked and opened her pouch to enable hundreds of kids to pour out and form a human map of Australia. The Snitch was one of those kids – with my aptly named best mate Cliff – positioned to form the Nullarbor Plain. It was all going splendidly until we realised there was a gaping error. We'd left Tasmania off the human map. I recall talking to the one kid who was solely responsible for that role. He mumbled something about eating too many apples and sprinted to the nearest toilet and, you guessed it, missed the cut when we boarded Matilda. The outrage was loud from Tasmanians. It was another slap in the face from the mainland. Realising the gravity of his absence when he emerged from the lav to find we had all left without him, 'Tassie' leapt the fence in a futile effort to address the geographical gaffe, but sadly, we'd already broken away. A bit like Tassie right now. Say no to the AFL and you deserve to be permanently cut adrift, leaving you to float south where you will somewhat ironically bump into Macquarie Island before clattering into the frozen pole of Antarctica.
