2009 Penfolds Grange Reviews
Learn More About the 2009 Penfolds Grange Through its Reviews.
2009
Penfolds Grange Reviews
97 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“At this youthful stage, this deep garnet-purple colored wine puts forward a vivid expression of blackberry preserve aromas amid underlying cassis, black cherry, spice box, char-grilled meat, and chocolate box notes. Surprisingly medium to full-bodied (it smells much fuller!) with taut flavors that are very closed in the mouth, it has firm, chewy tannins to structure through the long and earthy finish. 406 cases imported to the US.”
95 Pointz James Suckling
“A tiny 2% Cabernet component in 2009, this is sourced from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, and Magill Estate and has spent 18 months in exclusively new American oak hogsheads. The depth and complexity on offer is straight up impressive, blue and black fruit aromas unwind, meaty at times, some dark green herbal notes, and a cedary layer of oak lurking below. The palate has a core of essence-like flavour with plenty of oak-derived spice framed around blackberry, blood plum, and cola. Tannins are smooth and even, flavours are gently glazed around the dark fruit spectrum, some blue fruits too. This is a wistful Grange that, as always, faithfully reflects the vintage.”
95 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
Cellar Selection
“Huge dill and vanilla aromas wrap around intense mixed-berry fruit, ending on notes of espresso and dark chocolate. It’s full bodied and richly textured, but perhaps a bit coarse as well. This may not be the biggest, baddest or longest-lived Grange, but it maintains the Grange standard of excellence.”
94 Pointz Stephen Tanzer’s
International Wine Cellar
“Inky ruby. Intense spice- and mineral-accented aromas of cherry pit, blackberry, and plum, with smoke and floral qualities adding complexity. Taut and linear on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, offering zesty dark fruit and violet pastille flavors and hints of licorice and vanilla. Finishes smoky, spicy, and very long, with youthfully firm, building tannins adding grip. In a relatively taut, wound-up style for this wine; by all means give it some age.”
94 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectibles
"Aromatically pure, with beautiful focus to the blueberry, black currant, espresso, and cream character. In the mouth this sprouts prickly tannins and picks up a distinct tomato leaf note that sends the wine in a different direction. This has depth, length, and plenty of ripeness without excess weight, but lacks the complete harmony of the best vintages.”
93 Pointz James Suckling
“A taciturn Grange. Cinder, sandalwood, campfire and spice. Unusually, straight shiraz. Packed with clove, marjoram, and eucalyptus, with a grating of orange zest across the impenetrable, somewhat drying finish. Not the most charming iteration, although formidable of heft and full-weighted, as to be expected. This will continue to go a further distance with the caveat that while the tannins are bracing, they will dry out sooner rather than later. Drink or hold.”
93 Pointz Wine & Spirits
“This vintage is predominantly Shiraz, with two percent Cabernet Sauvignon; the fruit comes from estate vineyards and Grange growers in Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare and Penfolds’ original site at Magill. It has the blast of intensity in the initial scent that announces Grange, its explosive power continuing in the mouth, where the wine feels centered, the fruit finely ripened, the grape skin tannins integrating new oak into a scent of Indian spice. Dynamic and balanced to age for decades.”
Bonus Reviews
Australia
97 Pointz James Halliday
“From the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, and Magill Estate, 98% shiraz and 2% cabernet sauvignon; it finished its fermentation in 100% new American oak hogsheads and was matured therein for 18 months. Peter Gago has commented it is not as 'Barossa-ish' as the '08, and it's true the bouquet has fragrant sweet and savoury spices, the palate with licorice and black fruits, oak riding high, but guaranteed to be relegated to second place as the wine comes into balance around '30.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
18.5/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson,
Master of Wine
“Dark, blackish crimson. Savoury, leathery notes on the nose and then very appealing sweetness (much more so than the 1999) on the palate. Long and liquorice. Real energy. Plus sweet charm. Count me in for this one! Though perhaps it won’t last as long as some? A charmer rather than a bodybuilder.”