PENFOLD'S Shiraz Grange 'Bin 95' 2015 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
The 2015 Penfolds Grange (Bin 95) is a sensational masterpiece that embodies the rich legacy of Australian winemaking, with James Suckling awarding it a perfect 100 points. This vintage captivates with a thrilling aroma of zesty orange and lemon peel, intricately woven with graphite and luscious blackberries. On the palate, it reveals a sumptuous tapestry of flavours, including velvet-wrapped tannins and hints of ripe blackberry, blood plum, and succulent blueberry. Vinous scored it an impressive 98 points, echoing the complexity with layers of dark chocolate and smoky minerals that envelop the senses. Each sip culminates in a precise, elongated finish that resonates with exotic spices. A true gem, this wine promises to delight from 2030 onwards and is essential for any serious collector or connoisseur.

ABOUT THE WINE
The 2015 Penfolds Grange (Bin 95) emerges as a remarkable expression of the esteemed Australian winery's multi-district blending philosophy. Recognised as a Heritage Icon of South Australia, this vintage showcases the powerful potential of Shiraz grapes sourced from diverse regions, including Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, with a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon adding complexity.

James Suckling awarded this vintage a perfect 100 points, praising its concentration and complexity. The wine opens with an enticing bouquet of orange and lemon peel, followed by graphite, blackberries, and a multitude of other aromas, including sweet oak spice and roasted coffee. On the palate, it reveals immense richness, with a seamless blend of dense, velvet-wrapped tannins and flavours of blackberry, blood plum, and blueberry. Suckling recommends enjoying it from 2030 onwards, indicating its potential for long-term ageing.

Vinous echoed this sentiment, giving the wine a score of 98 points. The tasting note highlights ripe dark fruits combined with smoky minerals and dark chocolate, creating a broad, luscious mouthfeel. The finish is precise and long, with building tannins that resonate with bitter chocolate and exotic spices.

The Wine Advocate rated it 97 points, noting its rich and full-bodied character with firm, fine tannins and crisp acidity, layered with flavours of coffee and toast. Decanter awarded it 95 points, showcasing its youthful black fruit, smokiness, and the spice of American oak after 20 months of ageing, predicting it will benefit from years of cellaring.

Jancis Robinson's score of 18 points speaks to the wine's complex character, featuring earthy notes alongside coffee, chocolate, and bright acidity, highlighting its appeal despite some rusticity.

The 2015 Penfolds Grange is a quintessential Australian wine that not only reflects the winery's heritage but also stands as a testament to the artistry of winemaking, suitable for both immediate enjoyment and future contemplation.

JAMES SUCKLING 100 points !!!
Much anticipated vintage for Grange and it is a powerhouse of concentration and complexity. Aromas of orange and lemon peel to start, then graphite, blackberries, plum paste, black cherries, boundless sweet oak spice, fresh cedar, tar, mahogany, roasted coffee and chocolate - the list goes on. Such complexity. Classic Grange, offering such deep, dark intensity. The palate has immense richness and depth with a super succulent and very long, fleshy, deeply weighted array of dense, velvet-wrapped tannins that run so long. The fruit flavors sit in the blackberry, blood-plum and blueberry zone with succulent, long and assertive structure, carrying through in an utterly seamless mode. The finish is tightly wrenched, in spectacularly powerful style, locking this wine in for a very long haul. Best from 2030.

VINOUS 98 points
Drinking Window 2030 - 2041
From: The Barossa: An Ascent to Higher Quality (Dec 2021)
Saturated ruby. Deeply pitched, spice-accented aromas of cassis, smoky minerals, incense and dark chocolate. Large-scaled and broad in the mouth, offering intense blackcurrant, cherry-vanilla, mocha and candied violet flavors that are supported by a core of juicy acidity. Shows superb density and vivacity as well, with no rough edges. Finishes extremely long and precise, with building tannins and resonating bitter chocolate, exotic spice and floral notes. - By Josh Raynolds on January 2021

THE WINE ADVOCATE 97 points
Drink Date 2013 - 2025
"Containing just a dollop of 4.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2005 Grange is about 85%+ Barossa fruit with the remaining proportions coming from McLaren vale and Coonawarra. It was aged for 18 months in 100% new American oak hogsheads. The nose begins a bit animal with some smoked game, mincemeat and bacon notes emerging over the freshly crushed, sun-warmed blackberries, black currant cordial, earth, black truffles, anise and allspice. Rich and full with very firm very fine tannins and very crisp acid, it gives a long finish layered with coffee, mincemeat and toast."

VINOUS 97 points
This vintage of the famed wine is perhaps its most approachable to date. The nose is open and expressive, with waves of aromas ranging from licorice, currant and plum to baking spice, furniture polish, freshly picked olive, mushroom and vanilla. The mouthfeel is satiny in texture, awash with fruit and spices of all shapes and sizes, all wound by fine tannins. Drink through 2040. — Christina Pickard

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Anthony Rose
(at Penfolds Collection 2019 launch, London, 24 Jul 2019)
Part of The Penfolds Collection 2019: Grange 2015 & St Henri 2016 but no Bin 707
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2045
Based on fruit from Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and Magill, and with 2% Cabernet seasoning to the Shiraz, the huge, brooding primary colour of youth is accompanied by the youthful primary black fruit, smokiness and sweet coconut and liquorice-spiced American oak (20 months in new hogsheads) that’s so typical of Grange. The richness and concentration of blackberry fruit opulence on the palate is inextricably bound up with a spice- and coconut-infused textural quality whose tannins, while big and bold, are surprisingly soft and sumptuous on the mid-palate. As the super-ripe blackberry and black cherry jam fruit subsides, the tannins kick in, along with a crispness ensuring that - in line with the Grange style generally - this heady wine will benefit from two decades of ageing.

JANCIS ROBINSON 18 points
Drink 2014 - 2034
"Wonderfully fungal, like autumn leaf-litter. There's coffee, chocolate, liquorice, leather and lots more, with firm tannins and bright acidity. It's not the most beautiful Grange – in fact, there is more than a hint of rusticity about it – but the complexity is delicious."

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ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Penfolds is one of Australia’s most prestigious and celebrated wineries, with a storied history that dates back to its founding in 1844 by Christopher Rawson Penfold. Originally established as a source of medicinal wines, Penfolds has grown into a powerhouse known for its high-quality wines and innovative techniques. The winery is primarily located in the Barossa Valley, although it sources grapes from various regions across Australia, maximizing the diversity of its offerings.

One of the standout features of Penfolds is its flagship wine, Grange, first produced in 1951. Grange is a rich, full-bodied Shiraz that consistently receives international acclaim and is often regarded as Australia’s finest wine. The winery also produces other notable reds, such as Bin 389, often called “Baby Grange,” and a variety of white wines, including the renowned Penfolds Chardonnay.

Penfolds is known for its masterful blending techniques, where grapes from different regions and vintages are harmonized to create consistent quality and complexity. This commitment to excellence is reflected in their meticulous winemaking process, which balances tradition with innovation.

The winery embraces its heritage, offering visitors immersive experiences through tours and tastings, showcasing both the historical significance and modern advancements of the brand. With a commitment to quality and a legacy that spans nearly two centuries, Penfolds continues to be a cornerstone of the Australian wine industry, representing the country's winemaking prowess on the global stage.