Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2009

Penfolds has been a pioneer in the world of winemaking since its establishment in 1844 by Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold. The company's success has been driven by a lineage of visionary winemakers who have pushed the development of the company to extraordinary, bold new heights. Mary Penfold's reign at the helm of Penfolds saw years of determination and endeavour, experimenting with new methods in wine production. In 1948, Max Schubert became the company's first Chief Winemaker and he propelled Penfolds onto the global stage with his experimentation of long-lasting wines - the creation of Penfolds Grange in the 1950s. Soon, the medals began flowing, and Grange quickly became one of the most revered wines around the world. In 2012, Penfolds released its most innovative project to date - 12 handcrafted ampoules of the rare 2004 Kalimna Block Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Penfolds continues to hold dear the philosophies and legends that have driven the company's success since its establishment in 1844.

Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2009 is a wine that continues the legacy of Australia's most celebrated wine, Grange. 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 utilizes fully-ripe, intensely-flavoured and textured Shiraz grapes, resulting in a unique Australian style that is now recognized 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. The vintage conditions for the Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2009 were near-optimum rainfall over winter, followed by dry, mild conditions over spring, providing an ideal start to the growing season with canopies developing well. Climatic conditions favoured flowering and set with mild and calm weather, although there was some shatter in Shiraz across parts of the state, resulting in small crops for many regions. Some early to mid-December summer rainfall was followed by conditions drying up very quickly and continuing until the end of February. Summer was hot, with some extreme heat, but cool conditions returned in February and March, allowing the fruit to ripen across a long harvest with balanced acidities and excellent tannin ripeness. The Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2009 is an elegant yet powerful wine that is a follow-up to the conditions brought about in the preceding 2008 vintage.

The Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2009 is a wine that is both captivating and alluring, with a subtle variation on the expression of this iconic wine. The wine is made from 98% Shiraz and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and Magill Estate vineyards in South Australia. The wine has been matured for 18 months in 100% new American oak hogsheads. The Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2009 has a youthful colour at the rim with a dense magenta hue. On the nose, the wine is immediately recognizable as Grange with its formic, assertive, and powerful aromas, along with overt barrel-ferment markers. Racy red fruits clasp onto red liquorice, aniseed aromatics, while red meats with pepper and spice, rumtopf, add complexity. Patiently, panforte, mascarpone, malt and dried fig aromatics appear in a second wave, indicating that the wine has a long life ahead of it. On the palate, the wine is captivating, tempting and alluring yet another subtle variation on the expression of this thing called Grange. The wine is voluptuous and generous, yet poised and harmonious, with an assured presence that doesn't overstate its presence. Immediately apparent flavours of chocolate, mocha, cola and juicy plum entwine and converge toward the panforte impression aromatically sensed earlier. The wine is tight and defined, with excellent grip savoury and tannic. These tannins are both integrated and balanced, colluding with 100% new oak that is all but completely absorbed, adding complexity and depth to the wine. The Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2009 is a wine that is sure to impress any wine enthusiast with its complex flavours, balanced structure and powerful expression of the South Australian terroir. The wine is at its peak drinking between 2016 and 2050, indicating that it has a long life ahead of it. This is a wine that represents the best of Australian winemaking and is a must-try for anyone who appreciates a truly exceptional wine.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal -  Shiraz 98%, Cabernet 2%
Vintage - 2009
Country - Australia
Region - Barossa Valley
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14.5%