Of all the wines celebrating milestones in Penfolds’ Collection 2025, Grange is arguably – and unsurprisingly – the most significant.
The 2021 release marks 70 unbroken vintages since then-chief winemaker Max Schubert crafted the first ‘experimental red’ in 1951, inspired by the ageworthy table wines he’d discovered in Bordeaux. But, after early releases fell flat with trade and consumers whose palates were primed for fortifieds, Max was forced to make the wine in secret until 1960 when the Penfolds board allowed him to restart production.
It’s a good story, and not only because Grange is now one of the world’s most recognisable wines. “Some of our most revered wines started life as experiments," muses current chief winemaker Peter Gago, adding that "trial and experimentation remain at the heart of Penfolds today."
On August 7, Penfolds will release its Collection 2025. In the spirit of trial and experimentation, the 24 wines in this year's release come from four countries: Australia, USA, France and China.
As well as the 2021 Grange, highlights from Australia include the 2023 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 Bin 389 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, 2023 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the stunning 2023 Yattarna Chardonnay. Also notable are the 2023 Magill Estate Shiraz and 2024 Adelaide Hills Reserve Bin A Chardonnay, which celebrate 40 and 30 years respectively.
The USA Release is headlined by the 2021 Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon, considered Grange’s American counterpart and made mostly from fruit grown in California’s Napa Valley, blended with a touch of South Australian shiraz.
From France comes the fourth release of the French Winemaking Trial (FWT) 585 Cabernet Merlot Petit Verdot from Bordeaux, and the inaugural release of the FWT 543 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah – a wine “that reimagines our classic Australian blend and signature style as a Vin de France,” says winemaker Shauna Bastow.
And, rounding up the 2025 Collection is the third vintage of the Chinese Winemaking Trial (CWT) 521 Cabernet Sauvignon Marselan. Made with cabernet from Shangri-La and marselan from Ningxia, it’s a wine that “may baffle some,” Peter says, explaining that few would pick ‘China’ or ‘marselan’ blind.
See how Halliday taster Dave Brookes scored the wines below.
