South Australia Penfolds Wines Grange Bin 95 1996

Lot presentation

South Australia Penfolds Wines Grange Bin 95 1996

The wine

Employed by Penfold's since 1931, Max Schubert showed proof of great imagination and will in creating an exceptional and internationally renowned wine: the Penfold's Grange. Formerly distributed under the names Bin 95 and Grange Hermitage, this wine owes its name to the farm that belonged to the Penfold's founder, Grange Cottage, which itself takes its name from the Shiraz grape variety. On a mission to develop a rich, complex wine designed to age, Max Schubert used the Shiraz variety that went by the local name Syrah, implementing a ruthless selection process. The first vintage was born in 1951. Since then, the wine has imposed its own particular style: elegant, complex, revealing an intense bouquet of red berries with smoky, menthol notes. It also boasts phenomenal ageing potential.

About the Producer Penfolds

One of Australia's most renowned domaines, Penfolds was founded in 1844 by the English doctor Christopher Rawson Penfolds. In its beginnings the domaine produced mainly fortified wines (in the style of Port or Sherry) although dry whites and reds were also made. From 1900, the estate built up an admirable reputation thanks to the ageing potential of its fine reds. From 1950 onwards, Penfolds began producing exclusively red wines made from the Syrah grape varietal by their cellar master Max Schubert. Over the years the domaine has been merged with various companies to become today the property of Treasury Wine Estates. The vineyard is situated in the heart of the Adelaide hills in southern Australia. Penfolds is the standard bearer for fine Australian wine thanks to the high quality and consistency of its cuvées from the flagship to the entry level wines. This is quite a feat considering the estate spans 700 hectares. When it comes to the New World, Penfolds is a leading light.

Detailed characteristics