Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2018 1.5L

The most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-district, multi-vineyard blending philosophy, Grange is arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Produced using fully-ripe, intensely flavoured and structured shiraz grapes. The resulting wines have a unique Australian style, now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world's greatest wines. With an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951, Grange clearly demonstrates the synergy between shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia. This release in 2021 commemorates the 70th anniversary since Grange was first made.

Deep colour. Beautiful and classic with intense blackberry, blackcurrant dark chocolate espresso aromas and wax polish, roasted chestnut, malt notes. Superbly concentrated wine with deep set inky blackberry, blackcurrant, dark plum, dark chocolate mocha flavours, fine chocolaty/ velvety tannins, underlying espresso, malt, oak notes and hints of aniseed. Finishes chocolaty firm with superbly integrated acidity and mineral length. A glorious year for Grange. This will last 50 years at least. Wonderful. One of the greatest vintages of all time highlighting a superb growing season, marvellous vineyard management, the fidelity of the Penfolds housemaking style and generations of imagination and effort. 97% Shiraz, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley. 18 months maturation in 100% new American oak hogsheads. Drink 2030 -2060+. - Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal, 100 Points 

A much-awaited vintage that fulfils expectations and then some. It has all the elements that you come to expect but still you have to sit back and marvel that so much can be going on inside one wine. Firstly, it simply ain’t Grange unless it is wearing its traditional American oak coat, and this iteration isn’t going to shy away from that. But perhaps it is the generosity across the board of South Australia’s 2018 vintage that gathers in 18 months of barrel maturation, puts shape to its broad-shouldered dark fruits, turns oak notes into chocolate and sarsaparilla characters on one side of the brain and beef and mushroom braise in the other. All in all, it is a fabulous balance of inputs: big fruit, classically prominent oak, all its structural tannins and acidity fitting cleverly into one exceptionally complex and engaging being. Palate length is indefinite, perhaps suggesting similar cellaring potential well into the second half of the 21^st century. Magnificent. - Tony Love, Wine Pilot, 100 Points 

And more 100 Point Ratings
100 Points - Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com
100 Points - Lisa Perrotti-Brown
100 Points - Ken Gargett, The World of Fine Wine

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal -  97% Shiraz, 3% Cabernet
Country - Australia
Region - Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley
Vintage - 2018
Bottle Size - 1.5L
ABV - 14.5%