Description
The 1996 Penfolds Grange is one of the finest releases of this famous Australian Wine. It is an “A” Grade Grange and it is from a great vintage which has been rated 10/10.
The 1996 Penfolds Grange is eagerly sought by wine collectors but sits just behind the very great Grange vintages of 1990 and 1998. She ticks all the Grange boxes, if you collect fine wine.
If high points from wine critics are your thing then, the 1996 Penfolds Grange is for you, rated 98Pts by Jeremy Oliver and 97Pts by Campbell Mattinson.
The 1996 Penfolds Grange is deep crimson in colour. It is a beautifully, balanced and seductive wine with crimson plum, blackcurrant, blueberry, dark chocolate, aniseed aromas and well integrated savoury new oak. A supple and generously flavoured palate with deep set plum/dark chocolate/liquorice fruit, grilled nut, malty oak and supple fine grained tannins. It is a substantial Grange with power, complexity and finesse, a complete Grange.
The 1996 vintage was exceptional in both quality and quantity. After the drought in 1995, rain replenished soils during winter and the growing season was mild and dry which allowed the fruit to set and slowly mature which resulted in ripe, complex and elegant fruit.
The 1996 Penfolds Grange is a blend of shiraz (94%) and cabernet sauvignon (6%). It is interesting that cabernet sauvignon is added to Grange, it’s not added for any reason other than it contains the “Penfolds DNA”, it fits in the slot of what Penfolds Winemakers are looking for when deciding what wines make the final blend for Grange. All wines that make up Penfolds Grange are blind tasted by Penfolds Winemakers, so wine used from a particular vineyard in one vintage may not make the grade for the next Penfolds Grange vintage. The 1996 Penfolds Grange was matured in new American oak for 19 months.
