Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

‘Meaty, bloody, charred, dried fruit. There's lovely subtlety to this wine now, a gracefulness that is perhaps not usually associated with Shiraz of this style. It's one to drink soon.’ – Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, 18-/20 (Jul 2022)

‘Initially a bit closed and blocky, with time in the glass all the components open up to amplify its best attributes and achieve lovely harmony – and sits so easily in the presence of luscious comfort food such as lamb shank. This vintage shows a leap in sophistication for the style, managing to obtain a silky smoothness through the long, slinky palate while still allowing tarry black fruit notes to peek through the floorboards. This beast still has a distance to travel.’ – David Sly, Decanter.com, 97/100 (Jun 2021)

‘One of my favorite wines from Penfolds, the 1986 (a blend of 87% Shiraz and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon) is one of the most powerful Granges produced (14+% alcohol). At age 23, it reminds me of the way it tasted around 9 years of age. Inky/purple to the rim with an extraordinary perfume of sweet licorice, crushed pepper, blackberry liqueur, camphor, and barbecue spices, this sensationally full-bodied, concentrated, layered 1986 is still an infant in terms of its ultimate potential. It is remarkable how this wine has aged, and it’s hard to believe how certain wine geeks will subscribe to the aging ability of the Grange, but don’t believe the same is true for other old vine Shiraz wines from the Barossa and McLaren Vale. It just doesn’t make any sense. The 1986 is one of the greatest Granges for my palate, and it appears to still have 25-30 years of upside.’ – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 98+/100 (Jun 2009)

‘Approaching full maturity, this has developed into a huge mouthful of cherry, raspberry, plum, prune, anise and mineral flavors that keep expanding on the palate. Sensational now, but still has room to grow, at least until 2006 to 2010.’ - Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, 98/100 (Jan 1997)