Description
Penfolds has been a pioneer in the world of winemaking since its establishment in 1844 by Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold. The company’s success has been driven by a lineage of visionary winemakers who have pushed the development of the company to extraordinary, bold new heights. Mary Penfold’s reign at the helm of Penfolds saw years of determination and endeavour, experimenting with new methods in wine production. In 1948, Max Schubert became the company’s first Chief Winemaker and he propelled Penfolds onto the global stage with his experimentation of long-lasting wines – the creation of Penfolds Grange in the 1950s. Soon, the medals began flowing, and Grange quickly became one of the most revered wines around the world. In 2012, Penfolds released its most innovative project to date – 12 handcrafted ampoules of the rare 2004 Kalimna Block Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Penfolds continues to hold dear the philosophies and legends that have driven the company’s success since its establishment in 1844.
Penfold’s Grange is Australia’s most revered wine, and its creation represents a distillation of Max Schubert’s ambition for Australian wine. Schubert joined Penfolds as a messenger boy in 1931 and by 1948, he became Penfolds’ first Chief Winemaker. In the latter part of 1950, Schubert was sent to Europe to investigate winemaking practices in Spain and Portugal. On a side trip to Bordeaux, Schubert was inspired and impressed by the French cellared-style wines and dreamed of making ‘something different and lasting’ of his own. Combining traditional Australian techniques, inspiration from Europe and precision winemaking practices developed at Penfolds, Schubert made his first experimental wine in 1951. In 1957, Schubert was asked to show his efforts in Sydney to top management, invited wine identities and personal friends of the board. To his horror, the Grange experiment was universally disliked and Schubert was ordered to shut down the project. Max continued to craft his Grange vintages in secret, hiding three vintages ’57, ’58 and ’59, in the depths of the cellars. Eventually, the Penfolds board ordered production of Grange to restart, just in time for the 1960 vintage. From then on, international acknowledgment and awards were bestowed on Grange, including the 1990 vintage of Grange, which was named Wine Spectator’s Red Wine of the Year in 1995. Today, Grange’s reputation as one of the world’s most celebrated wines continues to grow. On its 50th birthday in 2001, Grange was listed as a South Australian heritage icon, while the 2008 Grange vintage achieved a perfect score of 100 points by two of the world’s most influential wine magazines. With every new generation of Penfolds winemakers, Max Schubert’s remarkable vision is nurtured and strengthened. Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2010 is a wine that continues the legacy of Australia’s most celebrated wine, Grange. Grange boasts an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951 and clearly demonstrates the synergy between Shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia. Grange utilizes fully-ripe, intensely-flavoured and textured Shiraz grapes, resulting in a unique Australian style that is now recognized as one of 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. The vintage conditions for the Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2010 were healthy winter rains in the Barossa Valley, followed by a dry and mild-to-warm spring which aided budburst. Consistent and slower growth continued and overlaid flowering and fruit set. December temperatures were much cooler, offering vines ideal growing conditions leading to veraison in early January. Summer rainfall came early, which was followed by dry, warm weather, alleviating any disease concerns. Mild conditions followed during harvest, with yields in some vineyards below average due to the dry season overall. The fruit from these regions showcases excellent colour, concentrated flavour development and integrated tannins hallmarks of a stand-out 2010 vintage. The Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2010 is a wine that showcases the excellence of Australian winemaking. This wine is a blend of 96% Shiraz and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Magill Estate vineyards in South Australia.
