Memorable for being the last of all vintages to be bottled in the original off-white foil capsules, and the first vintage to be bottled in magnums, nowadays there are usually six hundred magnum bottled each year. "The wine is deep ruby garnet with an unusual nose of root vegetables mixed with cola, caramel, black currant, and tar. Relatively attenuated in the finish, but sweet on the attack, this wine seems to be narrowing out, with the tannins becoming increasingly dominant. This is a vintage to monitor closely" -Robert Parker Feb 2002

By many accounts a superior vintage and a return to the past. 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. "97 Points! Smooth, unctuous and exceptionally elegant for Grange, its voluptuous palate finishes with exceptional. The longer it’s opened, the silkier and more ethereal it becomes, as the quality of its fine-grained tannin becomes apparent. A classic reflection of a great cool vintage!" -JeremyOliver.com

Tastings in September 1999 confirmed that the sheer intensity, power and overall balance of 1976 Grange meant it deserved its place as one of the great vintages of the 1970s. "Spectacular; enormous density of fruit with plenty of chocolate and dried fruits; almost port-like. Tannins are velvety and thick; so youthful, so monumental, so massively concentrated; amazing!" -Andrea Immer. "Consistently one of the most awesome wines ever made at Grange, It had a phenomenal showing at Penfolds' Magill estate. A legend for sure! " -Robert Parker Feb 2002

Winemaker John Duval called the 1981 a big, tannic Grange. A warm to hot, drought-affected summer yielded a powerfully concentrated wine with chocolate raisin fruit, earthy nuances, and pleasant oak. "Fresh white-toast aromas sit above a sea of blackberry jam and leather – this is a very fragrant wine, with a citrussy lift built in and a palate that, while drying out, has complexity to burn: old leather, dried herbs, dried meat, earth, a sweet stemminess and toffee-topped licorice. The finish is tired, but there’s still life left" -Winefront.com.au

1975 was the year Max Schubert retired from his post as Chief Winemaker, although he remained a consultant to Penfolds and kept an office at Magill Estate. He was succeeded by Don Ditter, who had worked with Penfolds as a winemaker since 1946. Penfolds 1975 Grange won two Gold and five other medals at Australian wine shows between 1976 and 1981. "A very powerful, rich, deep, muscular wine with enormous concentration, plenty of glycerin and sweetness, and remarkable freshness and vigor!" -Robert Parker Feb 2002

Considered a good wine from one of the most difficult vintages in memory for Max Schubert and his winemaking team. Rigorous grape selection saw one of the smallest Grange makes on record 2300 cases. It was future Chief Winemaker John Duval’s first vintage with Penfolds and the first Grange to be made at Nuriootpa and fermented in stainless steel. All previous vintages were made in the open concrete fermenters at the Magill winery. Winner of a Trophy, four Gold and three other medals at Australian wine shows from 1976 to 1989