Description
The 2004 Penfolds Grange Bin 95 is a spectacular wine. Penfolds Grange was catapulted to international attention when US wine critic Robert Parker Jnr named the 1990 Penfolds Grange as the “best red wine in the world”, but rating it only 94 points. The 2004 Penfolds Grange has just eclipsed its phenomenal predecessor with a 99/100 rating from Robert Parker Jnr’s The Wine Advocate, Dr Jay Miller. Leading Australian Wine Critic, Jeremy Oliver and the wine magazine Vines agree, naming the 2004 Grange the Wine of the Year, while the German WeinWisser magazine named the 2004 Penfolds Grange “the perfect Grange.” Penfolds Grange is considered one of the world’s great wines alongside some of the top offerings of Bordeaux and Burgundy, and it is listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia.
In 2009, Chief Winemaker Peter Gago described the nose of the 2004 Penfolds Grange as “richly fragrant” with notes of cola, Indian spices, and nougat. He also found exotic elements of Peking duck and fermented black Chinese tea, and oak that did not compete from the balance of fruit and spice. “Seamless” flavours of blackberry, Satsuma plum, chocolate, and Chinese tea linger on the palate to cover any overwhelming new oak, with a “long, effortless” finish. Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter Gago believes the 2004 Penfolds Grange is the finest vintage since the 1990 and 1996 and 1998 Granges. Peter Gago’s tasting notes highlight the 2004 Penfolds Grange ideal balance, between “Intense, powerful” and “composed, polished,” combining for an intriguing drinking experience.
The 2004 Penfolds Grange vintage was outstanding, rated 10/10. Above-average winter rainfall, a promising vintage, with mild conditions through January, followed by warm weather throughout February, March and April. Vineyards throughout South Australia produced wines of elegance and intensity, they all fared very well.
The 2004 Penfolds Grange is made from shiraz 96% and cabernet sauvignon 4%, with fruit sourced from vineyards located in both the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale wine regions and the Magill Estate. The 2004 Penfolds Grange was matured for 16 months in 100% new American oak and released 5 years after bottling.
