Winemaker John Duval called the 1981 a big, tannic Grange. It is just that, a very powerful, inky, purple-colored wine that is still almost primary and unevolved in its surprising youthfulness. This formidably endowed, broodingly backward, thick, full-bodied, muscular wine has a boatload of chocolate-infused plum, caramel, and cassis flavors. With high tannin, huge grip, and some propensity toward austerity, this is a monster Grange that may not totally assimilate the high levels of tannin, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about its future" -Robert Parker Feb 2002

The 1980 Grange is predominantly Shiraz with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon (4%) from the Kalimna and other Barossa vineyards, the Clare Valley, Magill Estate, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra. A generally good growing season with fine and warm conditions, was followed by a cool vintage. "This was a light harvest. A nose of melted asphalt, pepper, creme de cassis, and blackberries changes little in the glass, but with airing, some sweeter plum, prune, and chocolate emerge in a very full-bodied, powerful, seamlessly constructed wine" -Robert Parker

A Heritage-listed wine, the story of Grange is steeped in the Australian ethos. Penfolds 1954 Grange is extremely rare, a curio and valuable collector’s item. All but extremely fine bottles are well past their peak. Internal criticism of Grange led Max Schubert to lighten the style slightly and the 1954 had only about nine months in oak. The criticism fired at Max Schubert's early Granges reflected the conservatism prevalent throughout winemaking circles. "Schubert, I congratulate you. A very good dry port, which no-one in their right mind will buy - let alone drink!"

Despite carrying many different Bin numbers in the early years, Grange was always labelled Bin 95 from the 1970 vintage. This wine is a favourite of Don Ditter, who worked at Penfolds from 1946 and succeeded Max Schubert as Chief Winemaker in 1975. The 1970 Penfolds Grange is a blend of 90 per cent Shiraz and 10 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, from Kalimna, the Barossa and Adelaide's Magill Estate vineyard. Vintage conditions were dry, a growing season with rainfall 40 per cent less than normal

Grange 1994 represents an excellent offering from an above average vintage. Layers of massive Shiraz fruit and expertly crafted oak manifest themselves. Forceful, ripe tannins are balanced by sheer weight of fruit. "The wine, a blend of 89% Shiraz and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, shows some toasty oak mixed with notes of root vegetables, damp earth, blackberry liqueur, prune, and licorice, layered and rich. I would not be surprised to see the rating on this wine improve as this youthful Grange continues to evolve!" -eRobertparker.com Feb 2002

Grange combines the intensity of superior Shiraz fruit, with the complementary nuances of new fine-grained American oak. The 1965 Grange, plainly labelled as Penfolds Claret won the coveted Jimmy Watson Trophy, awarded to the best one-year-old red, the 1967 Grange won the same trophy two years later. This vintage also won two more Gold and six other medals between 1966 and 1973. Bottles from the 1965 vintage were labelled Bin numbers 69, 70, 71 and 95. A very autumnal style of Grange, with notes of mushrooms, and cedar