Description
The 1978 Penfolds Grange is considered a very good Penfolds Grange. Like the 1963 vintage, the 1978 Penfolds Grange has grown in stature with age and was rated 98/100 points by Robert Parker in 1990.
Outstanding vintage – Drinking Window: Now – 2018
At the Rewards of Patience – sixth edition – the 1978 Penfolds Grange was described as deep brick red in colour. Complex mocha/demi-glace/blackberry/meaty flavours with minty notes. A lovely concentrated wine with plenty of sweet fruit/mocha/blackberry/camomile/graphite flavours and powerful chocolaty tannins. Builds up dense and chalky at the finish, but the fruit follows through with excellent persistence, this is a very good Penfolds grange year, probably drinking at its best now (2008).
The 1978 Penfolds Grange is made from shiraz (90%) and cabernet sauvignon (10%). Fruit for this wine was sourced from Kalimna Vineyard (Barossa Valley), Barossa Valley, Magill Estate (Adelaide), Coonawarra, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale. It was a warm, dry growing season followed by mild vintage conditions.
