Description
The 1983 Penfolds Grange is a great Penfolds Grange. The growing season was bizarre, drought, hot temperatures, Ash Wednesday Bush fires and flooding in March. This vintage was very low yielding vintage resulting in a wine of immense concentration, it is wine that could cellar for 60 years or more under correct cellaring conditions. When released the 1983 Penfolds Grange RRP was around the $50, this wine now trades on the secondary wine market between $400 and $550.
In 1990 Robert Parker Jnr rated the 1983 Penfolds Grange 92/100. Max Schubert described this wine as “very big and concentrated” whilst Jeremy Oliver rated it 96/100.
During the Rewards of Patiences – sixth edition – the 1983 Penfolds Grange was described as deep crimson in colour. It is an intense wine, plush, with energy and volume; mocha/herb garden/cedar aromas with smoky/graphite nuances. Ripe saturated plum/mocha fruit/dark chocolate savoury oak and dense, rich, close knit muscular tannins. The wine finishes firm with plenty of flavour and length. v A very concentrated vintage with years of cellaring potential. The 1983 Penfolds grange is made from a blend of shiraz (94%) and cabernet sauvignon (6%) with its fruit being sourced from Kalimna Vineyard, other vineyards within the Barossa Valley, Modbury Vineyard and Penfolds famous Magill Estate. The 1983 Penfolds Grange was matured in new American oak for 20 months, which is a couple of months longer than usual.
