Penfolds 1998 Grange release is bright, almost impenetrable dark red. The nose is youthful and intense with dark, ripened Satsuma plum fruits rising above a base of liqueured dark chocolate and liquorice. Overtones of malt, toasty barrel ferment and nutty oak meld effortlessly into an exquisitely aromatic offering. The palate displays intense layering of fruit - raspberry, blackcurrant and blackberry - laced with liquorice and oak. The power of the fruit at the fore is balanced with ripe velvety tannins, offering an alluring even-textured palate with remarkable length. "The 1998 Grange will be legendary. A blend of 97% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, it tips the scales at a whopping 14.5% alcohol. The inky/purple colour is followed by an extraordinarily intense nose of creme de cassis intermixed with blueberry and floral notes. As the wine sits in the glass, aromas of meat, plums, and cola also emerge. It is a seamless effort with sweet tannin, well-integrated acidity, sensational extract, and layer upon layer of blackberry and cassis fruit that stain the palate and fill the mouth. Its harmony, freshness, and remarkable length (the finish lasts nearly a minute) suggest an all-time classic. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030." 99 Points - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
Grange is both Penfolds and Australia's most famous wine and is officially listed as a heritage icon of South Australia. Grange boasts an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951 and clearly demonstrates the synergy between Shiraz and the soils and climate of South Australia.
Penfolds Grange displays fully-ripe, intensely-flavoured and textured Shiraz grapes in combination with new American oak. The result is a unique Australian style that is now recognised as the most consistent of the world's great wines. The Grange style is the original and most powerful expression of Penfolds' multi- vineyard, multi-district blending philosophy.
Cool spring weather followed by a warm summer and very low rainfall created one of the classic vintages of the last two decades. Fruit quality was outstanding with incredible intensity of flavour, fine tannins and structure. The 1998 vintage of Penfolds Grange may rank amongst the very finest released.
Shiraz (97%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (3%), 18 months in new American oak. Last tasted 2010, Peak drinking 2010-2045. Winery Notes
