PENFOLDS GRANGE HERMITAGE 1986, Australia

Cellartracker average 95.7 pts. and median of 96 pts. in 40 notes. Wine Advocate #183 Jun 2009 Robert Parker 98+ Drink: 2009 - 2039 "One of my favorite wines from Penfolds, the 1986 (a blend of 87% Shiraz and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon) is one of the most powerful Granges produced (14+% alcohol). At age 23, it reminds me of the way it tasted around 9 years of age. Inky/purple to the rim with an extraordinary perfume of sweet licorice, crushed pepper, blackberry liqueur, camphor, and barbecue spices, this sensationally full-bodied, concentrated, layered 1986 is still an infant in terms of its ultimate potential. It is remarkable how this wine has aged, and itês hard to believe how certain wine geeks will subscribe to the aging ability of the Grange, but donêt believe the same is true for other old vine Shiraz wines from the Barossa and McLaren Vale. It just doesnêt make any sense. The 1986 is one of the greatest Granges for my palate, and it appears to still have 25-30 years of upside." 98 pts Australia Issue: Jan 31, 1997 "Approaching full maturity, this has developed into a huge mouthful of cherry, raspberry, plum, prune, anise and mineral flavors that keep expanding on the palate. Sensational now, but still has room to grow, at least until 2006 to 2010.--Penfolds Grange vertical. 5,790 cases made." Penfolds is an Australian wine producer, founded in 1844 by Christopher Rawson Penfold, an English physician who emigrated to Australia. It is one of Australia's oldest wineries and producers of Australia's most famous wine, Grange Hermitage, later renamed Grange. Penfolds Grange (until the 1989 vintage labelled Penfolds Grange Hermitage) is made predominantly from the Shiraz (Syrah) grape and usually a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is widely considered Australia's "first growth" and its most collectable wine.