Ring in the Year of the Dragon with one of the world's most celebrated wines. The first commercial release of Grange coincided with the Year of the Dragon, bringing a unique sentiment to this release. Continuing an unbroken lineage from the very first experimental release, the 2019 Grange is full-bodied, powerful, and perfectly balanced - a gift that is sure to be treasured for years to come. Aromas; Automatically recognisable - formic and glacial higher notes. Beneath, a more familial oaked nuttiness recedes to reveal aromas of black licorice/anise/black olive. A shroud of condensed glazed fruits surrenders to reveal a fresher disposition … a coulis of berries and stone fruits; boiled beetroot. Upon sitting, a sprinkle of lavender and exotic spices almost completes the aromatic package - well, at least for another minute or two. Early days. Palate; Cohesion, vigour, sheen, poise. Fresh and balanced. Neither exaggerated nor over-ripe – lively blueberry and other youthful blue/black fruits bely the maturation timeline of this alluring blend. Certainly befitting this style, unmistakable barrel-ferment characters are undoubtedly more pronounced on palate than nose. If the mid-palate is somewhat formidable (ably supporting a thick/dense core), by contrast the back-palate is creamy and caressingly endearing. Expansive and full – washing away all ahead of it. Texturally, chewy/grainy tannins and just-right acidity. Peak Drinking: 2029 - 2065 Awards: • 98+ Points - Andrew Caillard MW • 98 Points - Tyson Stelzer • 98 Points - Ken Gargett • 98 Points - Jeni Port • 19+/20 Points - Matthew Jukes

Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon combines with South Australian cabernet for a multi-regional blend Max Schubert could only dream of. Matured in French and American oak, this release shows a dark fruit intensity with notes of black pepper and coffee liqueur.

The Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz is a relatively new addition to the Penfolds stable, sourced from the Barossan sub-district, Marananga. Simply a revelation, this wine is an inky, black beast in the glass with lashings of dark chocolate and coffee accented fruit, yet this years offering shows a lingering, soft structured finish that will see the wine cellar very nicely.

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual amongst high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Proudly, a wine style that hasnt succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters with age. It is matured in an assortment of old large vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of cabernet may sneak into the blend, the focal point for St Henri remains shiraz.

This is a beautifully aged red by Penfolds, made from 60% Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Shiraz. Tannins are firm and provide the backbone to a fully mature wine exuding cloves, dried berries and prunes. There is no heaviness here and the palate is supple with a lingering finish.

The original and most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district blending philosophy, Grange is arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Crafted utilising fully-ripe, intensely-flavoured and structured shiraz grapes, the result is a unique Australian style that is now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world’s great wines. With an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951, Grange clearly demonstrates the synergy between shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia. A fusion of preserved figs, black plum, blackberry and black liquorice flirts with an aromatic elution of fish oil, anchovy, soy and sesame/nori. Nascent scents of toasted charred meats (rotisserie rib of beef), rendered fat/marrow... An uplifting freshness and higher notes are liberated with air – awakened scents akin to cola, Chinotto, aniseed, root beer.Camouflaged (new!) oak has to be proactively sought out, verified.Strikes a Grange stylistic bullseye, all boxes ticked.

In 2004, similar vintage conditions to the iconic 1962 vintage, inspired Penfolds winemakers to recreate Max Schuberts iconic wine. Cabernet Sauvignon from Block 20, alongside Koonunga Hill and Kalimna Shiraz, were included in the 2004 Penfolds Bin 60A blend.

Proudly, a wine style that hasn’t succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1,460 litre vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of Cabernet is sometimes used to improve structure, the focal point for St Henri remains Shiraz.