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Penfolds Grange 1961 - 750ml (102026)

  • $52,000.00
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Penfolds Grange 1961 - 750ml (102026)

  • $52,000.00

The 1961 Penfolds Grange (then known as Grange Hermitage) is a legendary vintage that is a landmark in the history of Australian wine. This wine won two gold medals and three silver medals at the Australian Wine Show between 1963 and 1968, and has now become extremely rare and has a very high collector's value.

Wine Profile

  • A groundbreaking blend: This is the first Grange in Penfolds history to incorporate cool-climate grapes from Coonawarra, breaking with the tradition of using only grapes from Adelaide (Magill, Morphett Vale) and the Barossa Valley (Kalimna).
  • Grape Varieties: A blend of 88% Shiraz and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon.
  • Region / Grapes: Sourced from multiple regions including the Barossa Valley (Kalimna Vineyard), Coonawarra, Morphett Vale, Modbury, and the Magill Estate in Adelaide.
  • Milestone: This was the first Grange vintage to incorporate grapes from Coonawarra alongside traditional sources.
  • Aging: Aged for 18 months in new American oak barrels (Hogsheads).
  • Vintage Profile: A hot vintage described as sturdy, powerful, and concentrated ("the Tarzan of Grange") with robust tannins, leathery notes, spice, and coffee.
  • Labels: Bottled at the time bore the Bin 95 designation, with some bottles labeled Bin 395.
  • Chemical Analysis: 12.7% ABV, 6.7 g/L Total Acidity (TA), pH 3.52.

Tasting Note

  • South Australia experienced a hot and dry growing season in 1961. This wine exhibits a powerful, robust Tarzan-like style, with full tannins and rich flavors of leather, spice, dark chocolate, and coffee.
  • While the official drinking window is between 1991 and 2001, recent blind tastings and reviews (such as at a high-end dinner in Hong Kong in 2023) show that well-preserved bottles still display remarkable vitality, ripe mushroom aromas, sweet fruit flavors, and Grange's signature chocolate creaminess.
  • Appearance & Nose: Brick color with a complex and spicy nose, featuring developed mushroomy notes, sweet fruit, leathery aromas, and interwoven hints of coffee.
  • Palate: Described as sturdy, beefy, and powerful ("a Tarzan of Grange") with husky tannins and a smooth, mellow profile.
  • Awards: Won two gold and three silver medals in Australian wine shows between 1963 and 1968.