2003 Grange
Vintage reviews
Sourced from the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale and Magill. 97% Shiraz, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2003 vintage was initially warm and dry, becoming milder later in the season. These conditions prompted an early start of harvest with the fruit reaching optimum ripeness evenly.
The vintage produced Shiraz with dense colour, impressive varietal characters and soft tannins. Matured for 15 months in new American oak hogsheads.
Peter Gago, Penfolds chief winemaker
92/100
Penfolds iconic 2003 Grange is Shiraz blended with 3.5% Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra. It was aged for 15 months in 100% new American oak.
Opaque purple-colored, it offers up aromas of cedar, cigar box, leather, Asian spices, and blueberry.
On the palate it is layered but a bit short on depth and grip with only moderate length. It will evolve for 5-7 years and drink well from 2014 to 2030. This is a good but not great vintage of Grange making it vastly overpriced.
Jay S. Miller, Wine Advocate #181, February 2009
94/100
Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, October 2008
96/100
Jeremy Oliver, www.jeremyoliver.com