Penfolds remarkable winemaking philosophy ensures each vintage of Penfolds Grange has its own vintage character, which continually evolves and surprises. The 2002 is at the other end of the Grange spectral offer to its previous vintage, purely as a result of two very different climatic vintages.100% new oak is completely absorbed, meshed with ripe tannins, completing a palate of impressive length and youthfulness. "The palate is expansive, and yet finessed, balanced, highly defined, sleek. A complete wine, this has been worth the wait!" -Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter Gago

The unique and distinctive Grange style is based on ripe Shiraz fruit and stylish American oak in fine harmony. The 1985 Grange is predominantly Shiraz with a small amount (1%) Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Kalimna and other superior vineyards in the Barossa, Clare Valley and Modbury (Adelaide Plains). A cool to mild growing season followed by similarly good conditions at vintage, with late rain delaying picking. An elegantly structured vintage with blackberry black olive plum flavours, and firm savoury tannins

There’s a noticeable cabernet component here (it’s 11% cabernet), giving the flavour profile a noticeable hit of blackcurrant and a more elongated, bony, tannin-driven structure. Still, the palate does come with flights of deep, dense, dark blackberry and crushed ants, and there’s a thick, malty, mentholly hit, particularly on the finish. Again, the striking thing here is the wine’s balance. And with a polished array of supporting flavours: cedar, dark chocolate, Asian-spice and brooding prune, it seems that time could easily do wonders" -Winefront.com.au

A fabulous Grange, powerful, seamlessly constructed wine with perfect levels of glycerin and extract. The wine still seems very youthful, made in a very voluptuous, blockbuster Grange style. It is just now reaching its plateau of drinkability" -eRobertParker.com Feb 2002. Considered an outstanding vintage, Tim White said of it at a tasting in September 1999, "Very good. I like this, it’s just about perfect!" Anthony Rose at the same event observed, "Very big-boned and just starting to ease into a long final straight. I suspect this is - will be - a classic!"

Don Ditter, who succeeded Max Schubert as Chief Winemaker observed that, "The 1957 and 58 vintages reflect a time when we were unable to purchase and mature the wine in new American oak. In the end, we employed and completed fermentation and maturation in used oak hogsheads. We never quite picked up the same characters. All the same, these are interesting wines and after almost fifty years they are still holding together." Bottles from the 1958 vintage were eventually released as Bin numbers 46, 47 and 49

Penfolds Grange has maintained its place as Australia's most prestigious red wine over four decades. An Australian icon, Grange represents a tradition in winemaking that is totally uncompromising. Grange has bypassed the fads and trends of modern winemaking in the sense that it has maintained an integrity of style and remained true to its origins in the mind of Max Schubert. An unusually wet (but hot) growing season, the 1979 was sourced from the Kalimna and other Barossa vineyards, the Clare Valley, Magill Estate and the McLaren Vale