2012 Grange

Sometimes tasting notes such as these are difficult to articulate. Not this time.

Channelling the 2010 Grange – an unfolding kaleidoscopic vinous mosaic of charm, allure, character and cerebral reward.

Complete. Stylistically, most closely aligned to the 1963 Grange and yet stridently extolling its own personality.

Can't quite remember when or where… and probably not about a wine, but recently scribed: Luxury that treads lightly!

Peter Gago, Penfolds chief winemaker

99/100

The 2012 Grange comes from just two sub-regions of South Australia this year: Barossa Valley (the majority) and McLaren Vale. This makes a lot of sense since 2012 was a cracking year in both of these areas, producing a number of extraordinary wines. As usual, this Grange contains a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon, just 2%.

Very deep purple-black in color, it opens on the nose with complex earthy/meaty/savory notes, soon giving way to baked blackberries, plum preserves, hoisin and Chinese five spice with dabs of sandalwood, licorice, menthol and vanilla.

The palate reveals a surprisingly open, rich, full-bodied expression exuding a powerhouse of velvet-lined decadence. Still, it characteristically possesses that rock-solid "Grange" backbone of firm tannins and great freshness expressed in a real lively lift to the finish. And the finish is epically long.

There are some stylistic similarities here to the opulent, gregarious 2008 vintage, perhaps just lacking ever so slightly in the same exhilarating abandonment of winemaking protocols for the celebration of the fruit and sites.

That said, this is unquestionably a stonking great Grange!

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, www.robertparker.com

97/100

Wine Spectator, www.winespectator.com