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6 bottles per lot
Details
PENFOLDS
Nothing stands still” – Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Penfolds is a magnificent operation to behold. With over 170 years of continuous harvests they are at once the standard bearer of Australian fine wine and the pioneers of innovation.
Within the world of Penfolds to wines two reds have long reigned supreme as iconic, world class wines: Bin 95 Grange Hermitage/Shiraz and Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon.
GRANGE HERMITAGE
From its earliest experimental days (1951; 1952 first commercial release) Bin 95 Grange “Hermitage” was ever the maverick bucking the wine making styles of the day. Unlike today, aging wines in small, Bordeaux like barrels, was unheard of in Australia 1952. “Too powerful” cried critics of Max Schubert, Penfolds visionary winemaker. “A very good, dry port, which no one in their right mind will by – let alone drink,” such was the opinion of one top management critic after sampling Schubert’s earliest pre 1957 attempts. The experiment was ordered shuttered and destroyed by none other than Gladys Penfold Hyland, Chairman of the Board.
Bin 95 needed a chevalier. Over at Magill Estate, assistant general manager, Jeffrey Penfold Hyland became the protector of Schubert’s Bin 95 experiment. Stashed out of sight from the prying eyes of Penfolds executives 870 miles away in the underground cellars at Magill, ‘hidden Granges’ were made without knowledge of the Board. Bin 95 remained uncommercial and secretive to all but the closest advocates and trusted advisors. With time to experiment, and additional harmony from bottle aging the rumor of Schuber’s “secret” wine became less so. By 1960, some of the same rejecting board members were organized for a re-tasting. This time however Schubert had won over many critics and powerful influencers. This time around Grange Hermitage was a massive success, the board ordered the production to restart in earnest just in time for the 1960 vintage. This was also the year when Max Schubert was promoted to National Production Manager (Chief Winemaker).
On offer today are the distinctive Granges styles of Chief Winemakers, Don Ditter and John Duval. The 1986 vintage is Ditter’s last vintage and largely recognized as one of the greatest Grange vintages of all time. Ditter signature upon Grange is best remembered for adding extra polish and finesse to the powerful wine. John Duval was an understudy to many at Penfolds, notably Ditter and Schubert. When he achieved his appointment as Chief Winemaker he was the youngest ever to head up the post. Under Duval’s stewardship Penfolds achieved some of its most profound developments and innovations. The 1990, 1991, 1996, 1998 on offer in the following pages are regarded as Duval’s finest vintages. The 1990 vintage in particular was awarded “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator.
Penfolds, Grange Hermitage 1971
South Australia
Lot 1367 levels: into neck; lightly bin soiled and wrinkled labels, three nicked labels, reconditioned by Penfolds in 2016
Lot 1368 levels: into neck; one lightly bin soiled label, one bin soiled label, reconditioned by Penfolds in 2016
6 bottles per lot
Nothing stands still” – Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Penfolds is a magnificent operation to behold. With over 170 years of continuous harvests they are at once the standard bearer of Australian fine wine and the pioneers of innovation.
Within the world of Penfolds to wines two reds have long reigned supreme as iconic, world class wines: Bin 95 Grange Hermitage/Shiraz and Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon.
GRANGE HERMITAGE
From its earliest experimental days (1951; 1952 first commercial release) Bin 95 Grange “Hermitage” was ever the maverick bucking the wine making styles of the day. Unlike today, aging wines in small, Bordeaux like barrels, was unheard of in Australia 1952. “Too powerful” cried critics of Max Schubert, Penfolds visionary winemaker. “A very good, dry port, which no one in their right mind will by – let alone drink,” such was the opinion of one top management critic after sampling Schubert’s earliest pre 1957 attempts. The experiment was ordered shuttered and destroyed by none other than Gladys Penfold Hyland, Chairman of the Board.
Bin 95 needed a chevalier. Over at Magill Estate, assistant general manager, Jeffrey Penfold Hyland became the protector of Schubert’s Bin 95 experiment. Stashed out of sight from the prying eyes of Penfolds executives 870 miles away in the underground cellars at Magill, ‘hidden Granges’ were made without knowledge of the Board. Bin 95 remained uncommercial and secretive to all but the closest advocates and trusted advisors. With time to experiment, and additional harmony from bottle aging the rumor of Schuber’s “secret” wine became less so. By 1960, some of the same rejecting board members were organized for a re-tasting. This time however Schubert had won over many critics and powerful influencers. This time around Grange Hermitage was a massive success, the board ordered the production to restart in earnest just in time for the 1960 vintage. This was also the year when Max Schubert was promoted to National Production Manager (Chief Winemaker).
On offer today are the distinctive Granges styles of Chief Winemakers, Don Ditter and John Duval. The 1986 vintage is Ditter’s last vintage and largely recognized as one of the greatest Grange vintages of all time. Ditter signature upon Grange is best remembered for adding extra polish and finesse to the powerful wine. John Duval was an understudy to many at Penfolds, notably Ditter and Schubert. When he achieved his appointment as Chief Winemaker he was the youngest ever to head up the post. Under Duval’s stewardship Penfolds achieved some of its most profound developments and innovations. The 1990, 1991, 1996, 1998 on offer in the following pages are regarded as Duval’s finest vintages. The 1990 vintage in particular was awarded “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator.
Penfolds, Grange Hermitage 1971
South Australia
Lot 1367 levels: into neck; lightly bin soiled and wrinkled labels, three nicked labels, reconditioned by Penfolds in 2016
Lot 1368 levels: into neck; one lightly bin soiled label, one bin soiled label, reconditioned by Penfolds in 2016
6 bottles per lot
Special notice
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