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The most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district blending philosophy, Grange is one of the world’s most celebrated wines and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Crafted utilising fully ripe, intensely flavoured, and structured Shiraz grapes, the result is a unique Australian style that is now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world’s great 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.
"The ’21 Grange was undoubtedly a hard act to follow, but here we see a ’22 that is up for the challenge... Sustained power meets a rising complex elegance."
"75 years of Grange: hard to believe this icon has reached such an important milestone and is still going strong."
"The wine finishes with great length and plenty of grip... The oak integration is exemplary. A wine of focus and energy. Plenty of grip there might be, but it is delightfully satiny in character. A wine which surely has forty years ahead of it. 98. "
Awash with blackness. Nuanced? Not really, a rapid re-emission of waves of… everything! Sumpy and sooty. Transient flashes akin to that of a blacksmith’s anvil or a cobbler’s boot polish? Relocating to the kitchen, black pudding and marrow immediately come to mind. Ditto, pan scrapings, and a suggestion of bay leaf in stew (à la Osso Bucco). Certainly easier to ID – spires of black cherry, dark chocolate and Chinotto. Prancing above – Grange trademark V.A. and the formics/ferrics (haemoglobin). Oak? Conceded. Just. 100% new? Old school. Proudly.
Respectfully, yet immediately and undeniably saturated/slurpy/sumptuous. Rich and lush with volume and density, energy and drive. Tightly woven, defined and yet intense, generous. A re-emergence of descriptors earlier sensed aromatically – black cherry, dark chocolate and Chinotto, and also add – walnut and Dubbin boot polish. The palate fans/extends outwards… a veritable lava flow of tannins impinges on all in its path. These tannins are buffed/resolved/polished. Lingers – in no hurry to exit - memories at stake! Reminiscent of which recent Grange vintage? Arguably may have to go back to the 1998.
Download Tasting Notes (PDF 213 KB)
Conditions The 2022 vintage was defined by a cool and measured growing season across South Australia, favouring structure, precision and longevity for Grange. Winter rainfall was near to above average, replenishing soil moisture ahead of budburst and supporting steady early vine growth. Spring was unsettled, with cool temperatures, wind and several significant hail events in late October impacting flowering and reducing yields, particularly for Barossa Valley Shiraz. Despite these challenges, vineyards recovered well through a mild summer with few extreme heat events and no sustained periods above forty degrees. In McLaren Vale, moderated temperatures and limited heat spikes supported even ripening and retained freshness. Coonawarra experienced a cool early season followed by a dry and settled finish. Low yields, extended ripening and healthy canopies delivered small berries, firm tannin structure and controlled power.
Key to the success of Penfolds has been a lineage of visionary winemakers. There have only ever been four Chief Winemakers at the helm of Penfolds – Max Schubert, Don Ditter, John Duval and Peter Gago, each a custodian of a rich winemaking tradition that goes back for more than 180 years.
Our current Penfolds winemaking team has more than 100 years between them as Penfolds winemakers. They are constantly refining and improving their work, whilst honouring the winemaking techniques of their predecessors.