2019 Penfolds Bin 95 Grange – 98 Points
98+ points Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal Penfolds Collection 2023
"Deep crimson. Lifted fresh dark chocolate, mocha dark cherry blackberry, paneforte, mocha aromas with liquorice aniseed notes. Superbly balanced wine with plentiful dark chocolate, blackberry fruits, fine graphite firm tannins, lovely mid plate richness and well-balanced mocha, espresso oak notes. Finishes chocolaty firm and long. Elemental, expressive and expansive with lovely fruit complexity, oak integration, density and torque. A brilliant follow up to the 2018 vintage. Drink 2028-2060+."
19/20 points Jancis Robinson MW
"Very dark purple. Heady and concentrated but too young to be very expressive. Massive! So concentrated it’s almost bursting at the seams of its attempt at a corset. There’s a certain framework that’s desperately trying to contain that exuberant fruit. It’s a marvel that they manage to make the selection but this is pretty impressive and exciting."
98 points Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
"Tough for this wine, coming on the heels of one of the greatest Granges of all time, the 2018, but it is perhaps a more classic Grange than was the ’18. It will certainly need more time before opening. It is, however, a superb, world class wine. 97% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet, from the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Clare Valley. 19 months in 100% new American hogsheads. A traditional Grange, if ever there was one. Quite a dark maroon hue. Chocolate, florals, violets, spices, blackfruits, vanillin notes. Walnuts, graphite, bacon scrapings and more. An alluring and rather beautiful nose. There is balance at every stage and complexity is already evident. Ripe, open and with immense length, it does give the impression of a wine that will be more comfortable in three to four years and then drink impressively for the next 30 or 40. Knife-edge balance and serious length with cassis and soy notes emerging on the palate with fine tannins but serious grip. A return to the classic Grange style, but be in no rush."
98 points Jeni Port, Wine Pilot
"Not the easiest of vintages with low winter rainfall in 2019 leading into high summer temperatures. South Australians will no doubt like to forget the 31 days of 35C+ temperatures. Against that backdrop, it is quite the winemaking feat to see a wine of such inviting beauty. An impressive Grange statement with aromas contrasting perfumed spice, earth, sage and vanillin oak with a deep concentration of fruit. Reflects the warmer vintage conditions with power and richness, but it’s not a galumphing statement. Far from it. There’s a surprising fineness, lifted and free flowing engulfed in a world of flavours from spice, licorice, chocolate and creamy mocha vanillin oak to black fruits, blueberries and plum – layer upon layer – fed by polished oak tannins. The role of just what three per cent of Cabernet Sauvignon brings to the 2019 Grange can be debated, but in warmer years there has to be some benefit in the form of Cabernet tannin structure. 19 months maturation in 100% new American oak hogsheads. A good follow-up to the outstanding 2018. Drink: 2023-2052."
98 points Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review
"Deep-tinted, rich, almost chewy red that initially overwhelms the senses with cacao powder, liquorice, charcuterie, blackberry compote, new leather, mixed spices, and toasted hazelnut. Initially slightly closed but after 30 minutes in the glass the wine revealed great complexity and, although still intense, was a delight to taste. Clearly a long-distance runner. Drink: 2023–2055."
98+ points Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal Penfolds Collection 2023
"Deep crimson. Lifted fresh dark chocolate, mocha dark cherry blackberry, paneforte, mocha aromas with liquorice aniseed notes. Superbly balanced wine with plentiful dark chocolate, blackberry fruits, fine graphite firm tannins, lovely mid plate richness and well-balanced mocha, espresso oak notes. Finishes chocolaty firm and long. Elemental, expressive and expansive with lovely fruit complexity, oak integration, density and torque. A brilliant follow up to the 2018 vintage. Drink 2028-2060+."
19/20 points Jancis Robinson MW
"Very dark purple. Heady and concentrated but too young to be very expressive. Massive! So concentrated it’s almost bursting at the seams of its attempt at a corset. There’s a certain framework that’s desperately trying to contain that exuberant fruit. It’s a marvel that they manage to make the selection but this is pretty impressive and exciting."
98 points Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
"Tough for this wine, coming on the heels of one of the greatest Granges of all time, the 2018, but it is perhaps a more classic Grange than was the ’18. It will certainly need more time before opening. It is, however, a superb, world class wine. 97% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet, from the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Clare Valley. 19 months in 100% new American hogsheads. A traditional Grange, if ever there was one. Quite a dark maroon hue. Chocolate, florals, violets, spices, blackfruits, vanillin notes. Walnuts, graphite, bacon scrapings and more. An alluring and rather beautiful nose. There is balance at every stage and complexity is already evident. Ripe, open and with immense length, it does give the impression of a wine that will be more comfortable in three to four years and then drink impressively for the next 30 or 40. Knife-edge balance and serious length with cassis and soy notes emerging on the palate with fine tannins but serious grip. A return to the classic Grange style, but be in no rush."
98 points Jeni Port, Wine Pilot
"Not the easiest of vintages with low winter rainfall in 2019 leading into high summer temperatures. South Australians will no doubt like to forget the 31 days of 35C+ temperatures. Against that backdrop, it is quite the winemaking feat to see a wine of such inviting beauty. An impressive Grange statement with aromas contrasting perfumed spice, earth, sage and vanillin oak with a deep concentration of fruit. Reflects the warmer vintage conditions with power and richness, but it’s not a galumphing statement. Far from it. There’s a surprising fineness, lifted and free flowing engulfed in a world of flavours from spice, licorice, chocolate and creamy mocha vanillin oak to black fruits, blueberries and plum – layer upon layer – fed by polished oak tannins. The role of just what three per cent of Cabernet Sauvignon brings to the 2019 Grange can be debated, but in warmer years there has to be some benefit in the form of Cabernet tannin structure. 19 months maturation in 100% new American oak hogsheads. A good follow-up to the outstanding 2018. Drink: 2023-2052."
98 points Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review
"Deep-tinted, rich, almost chewy red that initially overwhelms the senses with cacao powder, liquorice, charcuterie, blackberry compote, new leather, mixed spices, and toasted hazelnut. Initially slightly closed but after 30 minutes in the glass the wine revealed great complexity and, although still intense, was a delight to taste. Clearly a long-distance runner. Drink: 2023–2055."
98+ points Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal Penfolds Collection 2023
"Deep crimson. Lifted fresh dark chocolate, mocha dark cherry blackberry, paneforte, mocha aromas with liquorice aniseed notes. Superbly balanced wine with plentiful dark chocolate, blackberry fruits, fine graphite firm tannins, lovely mid plate richness and well-balanced mocha, espresso oak notes. Finishes chocolaty firm and long. Elemental, expressive and expansive with lovely fruit complexity, oak integration, density and torque. A brilliant follow up to the 2018 vintage. Drink 2028-2060+."
19/20 points Jancis Robinson MW
"Very dark purple. Heady and concentrated but too young to be very expressive. Massive! So concentrated it’s almost bursting at the seams of its attempt at a corset. There’s a certain framework that’s desperately trying to contain that exuberant fruit. It’s a marvel that they manage to make the selection but this is pretty impressive and exciting."
98 points Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
"Tough for this wine, coming on the heels of one of the greatest Granges of all time, the 2018, but it is perhaps a more classic Grange than was the ’18. It will certainly need more time before opening. It is, however, a superb, world class wine. 97% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet, from the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Clare Valley. 19 months in 100% new American hogsheads. A traditional Grange, if ever there was one. Quite a dark maroon hue. Chocolate, florals, violets, spices, blackfruits, vanillin notes. Walnuts, graphite, bacon scrapings and more. An alluring and rather beautiful nose. There is balance at every stage and complexity is already evident. Ripe, open and with immense length, it does give the impression of a wine that will be more comfortable in three to four years and then drink impressively for the next 30 or 40. Knife-edge balance and serious length with cassis and soy notes emerging on the palate with fine tannins but serious grip. A return to the classic Grange style, but be in no rush."
98 points Jeni Port, Wine Pilot
"Not the easiest of vintages with low winter rainfall in 2019 leading into high summer temperatures. South Australians will no doubt like to forget the 31 days of 35C+ temperatures. Against that backdrop, it is quite the winemaking feat to see a wine of such inviting beauty. An impressive Grange statement with aromas contrasting perfumed spice, earth, sage and vanillin oak with a deep concentration of fruit. Reflects the warmer vintage conditions with power and richness, but it’s not a galumphing statement. Far from it. There’s a surprising fineness, lifted and free flowing engulfed in a world of flavours from spice, licorice, chocolate and creamy mocha vanillin oak to black fruits, blueberries and plum – layer upon layer – fed by polished oak tannins. The role of just what three per cent of Cabernet Sauvignon brings to the 2019 Grange can be debated, but in warmer years there has to be some benefit in the form of Cabernet tannin structure. 19 months maturation in 100% new American oak hogsheads. A good follow-up to the outstanding 2018. Drink: 2023-2052."
98 points Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review
"Deep-tinted, rich, almost chewy red that initially overwhelms the senses with cacao powder, liquorice, charcuterie, blackberry compote, new leather, mixed spices, and toasted hazelnut. Initially slightly closed but after 30 minutes in the glass the wine revealed great complexity and, although still intense, was a delight to taste. Clearly a long-distance runner. Drink: 2023–2055."
