1983 Grange

Sourced from the Barossa Valley (including Kalimna Vineyard), Magill Estate (Adelaide) and Modbury Vineyard.

This vintage was seriously affected by the 1982 drought, though less by the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires and March flooding. Summer rainfall was a little more than half the average, following by record rains in March.

Shiraz (94%), Cabernet Sauvignon (6%). Matured in new American oak hogsheads for 20 months.

Don Ditter, Penfolds chief winemaker

90/100

1983 was a difficult vintage in Australia as many viticultural areas were plagued by drought, followed by brush fires, and then floods. However, Penfold's has always been pleased with their 1983 Grange.

It is an opaque, densely-colored wine, but it has consistently tasted tannic and backward. From a pleasure standpoint, it is the youngest and most structured recent vintage of Grange Hermitage.

Although full-bodied with huge reserves of black fruits, it is impossible to predict whether or not the austere tannin will melt away. I choose to be optimistic and believe that with 5-6 years of cellaring the wine will exhibit a more harmonious blend of fruit and tannin.

The wine is capable of lasting another 20 years.

Robert M. Parker Jr., Wine Advocate #100, August 1995

90/100

Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, 31 January 1997

96/100

Jeremy Oliver, www.jeremyoliver.com