1991 Penfolds Grange

The 1991 Penfolds Grange is a genuinely important Australian fine-wine vintage. Penfolds itself describes it as one of the finest red wines made in Australia, with particularly classic Grange character - indeed, the house notes suggest it may display the Grange signature even more clearly than the highly acclaimed 1990.

The wine is 95% Shiraz and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced primarily from the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, and matured for 18 months in new American-oak hogsheads.

The bouquet is wonderfully mature and complex, showing dark berry fruit, tobacco, mocha, roasted chestnut, vanilla and spice, with the unmistakable sweet American-oak character associated with classic Grange. With further air, expect increasingly developed notes of leather, savoury meat, dried herbs and earthy undergrowth.

On the palate, this is rich, concentrated and powerful, but at roughly 35 years old it has moved well beyond simple primary fruit. Dark chocolate, mocha, aniseed and rich berry flavours are supported by fine-grained tannins and a firm, chalky finish. Penfolds' mature-vintage commentary describes it as having "tremendous substance and lasting power" and calls it a classic vintage.