May 1st = Grange 2005

May 1 is a red letter day in any Australian wine lovers’ calendar as it marks the release of the new vintages of Penfolds icon wines, including 2005 Grange. These are wines that barely need an introduction. On the face of it, Grange is a curious, indeed counter-intuitive wine. It’s not a single vineyard wine, or even a single region wine. It was famously dismissed by critics and even Penfolds in its early years. And yet here we are with the 54th vintage of the wine recognised as being at the top of the Australian hierarchy. In the end it comes down to pedigree. While we can surmise that a wine made in a certain style will develop for 20 years or more, with Grange it has been proven.

2006 St Henri Shiraz
St Henri is a stunning wine, and if there is a bargain to be had in the icon releases, this is it. Made from premium Shiraz and aged in large, older oak barrels, it is a beautiful expression of supple fruit and delicious Shiraz characters. It ages with grace and elegance.

2007 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon
Possibly the most distinctive Cabernet in Australia, Bin 707 is made to be the Cabernet version of Grange. It’s ripe and intensely flavoured, and completes its fermentation and maturation in new American oak. The fruit is so powerful, almost like a blackcurrant paste, that the oak is unobtrusively integrated. It too will cellar for decades.

2007 RWT Barossa Shiraz
The tenth anniversary release of Penfolds’ Red Winemaking Trial (hence RWT), this is the perfect counterpoint to Grange. Sourced entirely from the Barossa Valley and aged in French oak, it is more aromatic, opulent and graceful than Grange. Its style is aromatic and finely textured fruit, rather than sheer power. With lush and expansive flavours and long-term ageing potential, RWT has firmly cemented its place in the company.

2005 Grange
Grange is the backbone of any serious Australian wine collection. Its proven capacity to age is second to none. The aromas are pure South Australian Shiraz – coffee, chocolate, liquorice and cassis with characteristically forward oak that will soften as the wine ages in the long term. The vintage was ideal, leading to a very complete wine with a chewy, mouthfilling fruit profile.

So get into your favourite retailer or email them with your requests as these wines generally sell out quickly.

Many thanks to http://www.wine-ark.com.au/ for the tasting notes.

Cheers