Meet a very special $495 wine tasting experience

Penfolds Grange is undoubtedly Australia's most famous wine. It is recognised worldwide and is much sought-after by collectors. 

For many wine-loving visitors to South Australia, a Grange tasting is a key component of their travels. 

To celebrate 180 years of Penfolds and the 60-year anniversary of Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon - another wine icon - Penfolds Magill Estate has launched a new tasting experience. But it doesn't come cheap. 

Those participating enjoy a bespoke winery tour and tasting, followed by a food and wine experience in Magill Estate Restaurant. The cost is $495 per person and the experience is available Wednesdays–Saturdays at 3pm. It's part of the Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia roster. 

The historic vineyard was established in 1844 by Dr Christopher Rawson and Mary Penfold.  

The new Collectors' Experience includes a guided tasting of Penfolds' most famous wines, including  Penfolds Grange, in a private tasting room. 

The wines featured in the tasting include Yattarna Chardonnay, Quantum Cabernet Sauvignon from the  Napa Valley/South Australia, Penfolds X Dourthe Bordeaux Blend- Superblend 802.B Cabernet Shiraz,  Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon and Grange. 

Other inclusions are a copy of Penfolds Rewards of Patience book to take home. 

Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, there is also the Platinum Grange Experience where you arrive in style with a chauffeured transfer, followed by a guided historical tour of Penfolds Magill Estate.

Then enjoy a tasting of Penfolds most high-profile wines, including Grange, and indulge in a five-course lunch with paired wines at Magill Estate Kitchen, where your experience concludes with a personalised bottle of Grange and a return luxury transfer.

That's $1,650 per person and bookings are needed at least 48 hours in advance. 

For more details see https://www.penfolds.com/en-au/experiences/magill-estate-cellar-door.html 

For wine experiences across Australia check out https://www.ultimatewineryexperiences.com.au/

New Penfolds Grange hits $1000 a bottle mark

The soon-to-be released 2018 Penfolds Grange has hit the $1000 mark for a bottle for the first time - and fortunately the wine is a ripper.

I've dubbed it the Bruce Springsteen of wines; and scored it 99 points. Intense and stylish, it is rock 'n' roll in a glass.

Powerful but nuanced, it is more Thunder Road than Born in the USA, if you get my drift.    

"A well-dressed Grange...classy rock star! Or ‘a modern, classic Grange...sleek and finessed, with a punch!’ You choose," says Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago.

More notes and background when the wine- and its stablemates - get released. Of course, the price makes it a wine only for those with bulging wallets. 

The new Grange will hit the market on August 4 - and for once had to share the limelight at the annual Penfolds Collection tasting with the news that the annual Collection release will comprise three country of origin portfolios: Australian, Californian and the inaugural French release.

Gago says the wines all showcase the Penfolds ‘House Style’ in a global context.

Penfolds' ambition to make wine outside of Australia started decades ago and the portfolio now includes winemaking using fruit from across Australia (from South Australia to Tasmania), Champagne, the Napa Valley, Paso Robles in California and now Bordeaux in France.

Penfolds II is a partnership with French winemaking House Dourthe; a collaboration between Gago and Dourthe chief winemaker Frédéric Bonnaffous, that features a blend of grapes from Bordeaux (71%) and South Australia (29%).

The name “Penfolds II” represents two winemakers coming together.

Made from the 2019 vintage using cabernet, shiraz and merlot, the final wine was blended and bottled in South Australia by Penfolds winemakers. A weird concept that pushes the envelope.  

“This is the start of our French winemaking journey," says Gago. "Our main objective? To remain true to the winemaking ethos of both wineries, to deliver the best blend possible, to ideally make Bordeaux and South Australia proud.

"This wine is not about bigness or boldness or assertion. It is blended to convey an ethereal lightness, subtlety on the palate - sensitively binding two hemispheres, Old World and New.”

Also to be released in August is the 2019 Penfolds FWT 585, a French trial bin wine made of Bordeaux cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot.

The wine was made at Cambon la Pelouse Winery with Penfolds senior winemaker Emma Wood the guiding light.

Following the inaugural release of Penfolds Californian wines in 2021, the next generation will be part of the 2022 Collection. This year’s release features the 2019 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon and Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz.

Penfolds managing director Tom King said: “Penfolds is building a global ambition not just on paper but with our feet in vineyards across two hemispheres.

"We are focused on making Penfolds wines from the best winemaking regions globally. We started this journey with our partnership with Champagne (Thienot), then brought to life a 20-year endeavour with the California wine release, and now, we proudly introduce a partnership with leading a Bordeaux winery and reveal our own 2019 Trial Bin wine in France.”

This year’s Collection will be celebrated with a series of events globally, titled ‘Venture Beyond by Penfolds’.

The Penfolds Collection 2022 includes the following French wines: 2019 Penfolds II Cabernet Shiraz Merlot. $500; 2019 FWT 585 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot $120.00.

The Australian line-up is: 2018 Grange $1000.00, 2020 Yattarna Chardonnay $175.00, 2020 RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz $200.00, 2019 Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon $300.00, 2020 Magill Estate Shiraz $150.00, 2019 St Henri Shiraz $135.00, 2021 Reserve Bin A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay $125.00, 2020 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz $100.00, 2020 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon $120.00, 2020 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz $100.00, 2020 Bin 28 Shiraz $50.00, 2020 Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz $60.00, 2020 Bin 138 Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache Mataro $60.00, 2021 Bin 23 Pinot Noir $50.00, 2021 Bin 311 Chardonnay $50.00, 2022 Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling $40.00.

The Californian range is: 2019 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon $225.00, 2019 Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon $120.00, 2019 Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz $90.00.

A whole lot more o talk about on August 4. 

The five best-value wines in the 2021 release of the Penfolds Collection

Most of my wine writing colleagues will today be dissecting in minute detail the new-release 2017 Penfolds Grange - Australia's flagship red wine - which will be released on August 5. 

Today sees the lifting of the embargo on global tastings held last month of the new Penfolds releases. 

With the new Grange very much a special occasion wine at $950 a bottle, I thought you might be more interested in the best value wines among the new releases: wines ordinary folk can enjoy, or cellar, without taking out as second mortgage. 

The Australia Collection 2021 includes 2017 Grange $950.00; 2019 Yattarna Chardonnay $175.00; 2019 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon $650.00; 2019 RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz $200.00; 2019 Magill Estate Shiraz $150.00; 2018 St Henri Shiraz $135.00; 2020 Reserve Bin A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay $125.00;  2019 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz $100.00; 2019 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon $110.00; 2019 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz $100.00; 2019 Bin 28 Shiraz $50.00; 2019 Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz $60.00; 2019 Bin 138 Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache Mataro $60.00; 2020 Bin 23 Pinot Noir $50.00; 2020 Bin 311 Chardonnay $50.00 and 2021 Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling $40.00. 

That is a collection spanning five white and red wine vintages.

First of all, some notes about the new releases and some thoughts from Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago (above) on the "house style" that has been a hallmark for 177 years as the flagship Grange celebrates its 70th anniversary (1951 experimental – 2021). 

"Adored for its aromatic complexity, intensely rich fruit and ripe tannins of shiraz, Grange’s style and winemaking techniques have not altered since the first experimental vintages in the early 50s," says Gago. 

"After 70 years of unbroken vintage releases, the South Australian heritage icon is renowned by collector’s the world over for its unique Australian identity, consistency, and proven aging potential. 

“The original aspiration for Grange was to create a red wine ‘capable of staying alive for a minimum of 20 years’. Tell that to sexagenarian vintages such as ’52, ’53, ’55 & ’62! Stunningly drinkable in 2021! In modern parlance - under-promise, over-deliver! Long may it continue … and modern Grange vintages such as ’08, ’10 & ’16 patiently await judgement in 2071!” 

My verdict on the 2017 Grange: Made from 100% shiraz, a wine that combines richness and stylishness; powerful but elegant with layers of soft and smooth flavours ranging from racy to umami to dusty. 97/100. 

Like most Penfolds wines, the new vintage red and white wines will continue to develop and improve for many years after release - how long they should be kept depends on whether you enjoy your wine with some youthfulness or fully matured. 

Adding to this year’s Collection, Penfolds will launch two limited-edition wines made from parcels destined for Penfolds flagships: Superblend 802.A and 802.B Cabernet Shiraz (both $900). 

Essentially siblings raised in different environments, the wines represent two very different interpretations of the classic Australian blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. The price of both is high for me, but they will doubtless be snapped up by collectors.

My top five value wines from the new releases: 

Penfolds 2018 St Henri: Made from 100% shiraz, it's all about the fruit here; dark and delicious and immediately accessible. Soft and supple and seductive. 99 points. $135. 

Penfolds 2021 Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling: Perhaps the best-ever Bin 51. High-altitude and cool-climate fruit with finesse and elegance that can be enjoyed now with its bright acidity, lemon sherbet notes and crispness, or be cellared. 97 points. $40. 

Penfolds Bin 407 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon: Beautifully balanced, impeccably composed with berries, cassis and chocolate notes and impressive tannin structure. Drinkable now but with decades to go. 97 points. $125. 

Penfolds Bin 128 2019 Coonawarra Shiraz: A really delicious cool-climate shiraz with dark fruits, pepper and spice notes duelling on your tongue. 12 months in French oak hogshead. 96 points. $60.

Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz: The initials RWT stand for ‘Red Winemaking Trial’ but now a stalwart of the range. Made from Barossa Valley fruit selected for aromatic qualities and lush texture. This is bright and vibrant. 96 points. $200.  

For more information visit www.penfolds.com. 

Grange fetches record price at auction

A bottle of Penfolds Grange 1951, which was both signed and recorked by winemaker Max Schubert, has gone under the hammer at a Langton’s auction for $142,131, breaking the previous record for an Australian wine of $103,000.

Max Schubert AM (Wikimedia)

The bottle is one of the few rare examples in existence of the first vintage of Penfolds Grange ever made, and went under the hammer at the Langton’s Penfolds Rewards of Patience auction.

The buyer was a Sydney-based wine collector who was not identified.

“This is extraordinary, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought a bottle of Australian wine would sell for this much,” said Langton head of auctions Tamara Grischy.

“This, however, is a unicorn of a wine, and one of the finest bottles we’ve ever seen come through at Langton’s.

“The buyer is thrilled to have secured this fine piece of Australian wine history for their collection.”

Penfolds Grange Hermitage Bin 1 Shiraz 1951 is the first vintage ever made of Australia’s most famous wine. Schubert only made three or four barrels of it, and he gave away most bottles to his friends.

This specific bottle of Grange Hermitage Bin 1 Shiraz 1951 was made even more special as it is signed by Schubert, and hand re-corked in August 1988 at Penfolds Magill Estate.

“Incredibly, the 1951 Grange – the first vintage ever created – has sold for a world record price, as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Grange in 2021. This is one to complete a collection,” said Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago.

“After 70 years of unbroken vintage releases, Grange continues to surprise and reward. Much to celebrate.”

There are believed to be around 35 bottles of the first vintage of Penfolds Grange in existence. This includes approximately 15 bottles that are part of complete sets of Penfolds Grange, which include all vintages of Penfolds Grange from 1951 to present day.

The Penfolds Australia Collection 2021, including the latest Grange vintage, 2017, is due to be released on Thursday, August 5.

Grange has a 70th birthday party with serious style

Magill Estate, where the 2020 Penfolds Grange sits maturing in barrels, was the venue for a memorable 70th birthday party for Australia's most iconic red wine. 

The first Penfolds Grange Hermitage, created by Max Schubert, was made in 1951. 

Chief winemaker Peter Gago and his team celebrated the milestone in style with a few friends last night. 

It was, as you'd expect, a memorable occasion with guests given Salon Le Mesnil 1996 Blanc de Blancs to start and tastes of no fewer than six previous vintages of Grange (1965, 1976, 1986, 1990, 2004, 2010), served alongside some magnificent food. 

Here's a few images I took (apologies if any are out of focus).

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Why I'm sworn to silence about the new Penfolds wines

Chief winemaker Peter Gago and the Penfolds winemaking team today unveiled the new 2017 Penfolds Grange, along with the rest of the 2021 Australia Collection. 

A small group of lucky media (minus the Victorians) was shown all the new releases - along with two brand new wines - at the superb new Kingsford Homestead facility on the edge of the Barossa Valley. 

We sniffed and sipped, made notes and interrogated Gago. But I can't reveal a word about any of the new releases. 

With more tastings to be held globally, there is a media embargo imposed until July 22 - and the wines will not be released until August 5. 

So what can I tell you? 

The team let slip that there might be some news on pricing that will please consumers. 

All the wines will be released in Australia with a screw cap option. Except Grange, which remains under cork. 

I can also say that one of the cheapest wines in the range is absolutely stunning. But I can't say any more. 

Just stay tuned.