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Penfolds Grange
Barossa Valley, Australia
About this product
Australia's most iconic wine — created by Max Schubert in 1951 against company orders, briefly discontinued, then revealed to be Australia's greatest wine. Grange is a multi-vineyard, multi-region Shiraz (and small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon) blended from the finest barrels of the vintage. In great years it sources from Barossa, Magill Estate (Adelaide suburban vineyard — heritage site), McLaren Vale, and sometimes Clare Valley. 100% new American oak for 20 months. Capable of 40-50 years ageing in great vintages.
The deductive profile Library
colourOpaque deep ruby-purple in youth, garnet at 20 years
finish60+ seconds — dark fruit, oak, iron, dust echo
aromaBlackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, American oak (vanilla, coconut, cedar), leather, tar, iron
flavourMassive concentration — blackberry, plum, chocolate, American oak vanilla, iron, leather
youth profileAlmost inaccessible at release — needs minimum 10 years
maturity profileAt 20-30 years: dried fruit, leather, iron ore, cedar, complex mushroom development
Service
glassLarge Burgundy or Bordeaux glass
food pairingSlow-roasted lamb shoulder, kangaroo with bush tomato, washed-rind cheese
serve temp c17
decant minutes120 min
ageing potential years30-50+
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Pairings
complement
celebration
Penfolds Grange belongs with Australia's finest table; the indigenous bush tomato sauce echoes the wine's sun-ripened depth
classic
main
complement
cheese
Grange's complexity and weight matches the sharpness of aged Australian clothbound cheddar; quince bridges the dark fruit
classic
cheese
elevate
food
Grange is Australia's most iconic wine; a whole-roasted native cattle breed demands this scale of wine
classic
celebration
complement
lamb
Grange's enormous concentration and dark fruit need a preparation of equal weight. The slow-roasted lamb shoulder at 6 hours develops the fat-rendered richness to support Grange's power. Pomegranate molasses bridges to Grange's plum-dark fruit. This is Garth's personal pairing memory from working with Australian lamb.
classic
main
complement
beef
Grange's Barossa Shiraz icon belongs with Australia's finest beef; native pepper berry bridges the wine's powerful spice
classic
main
complement
cheese
The power of Grange requires equally powerful cheese — a mild cheese is overwhelmed. Washed-rind's pungency and umami depth match Grange's concentration. The American oak vanilla in the wine softens the cheese's ammonia character. Australian wine with Australian cheese is the cultural bridge.
established
cheese
complement
cheese
American oak vanilla in Grange bridges the aged Cheddar's butterscotch depth; iron and leather echo the cheese's sharp, aged intensity; blackberry provides fruity counterpoint.
established
cheese
complement
meat
Iron and leather in Grange mirror kangaroo's iron-dense game character; native pepper berry echoes the wine's spice; eucalyptus provides a botanical bridge.
adventurous
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