Penfolds Grange 1997

Penfolds Grange 1997 is a multi-regional South Australian Shiraz blend bottled at approximately 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Scored 95 points by Jeremy Oliver and 94 points by both Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion, this vintage stands among the consistently celebrated releases of Australia's most legendary red wine.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5%  |  Origin: South Australia (multi-regional blend)  |  Vintage: 1997  |  Producer: Penfolds

Production & Heritage

Penfolds traces its origins to 1844, when Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold planted vine cuttings at his Magill Estate cottage near Adelaide. Grange, the flagship, was first created by legendary winemaker Max Schubert in 1951 and has been produced in nearly every vintage since. The 1997 is composed of 96% Shiraz and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from multiple premium vineyard sites across South Australia — including the Barossa Valley — then aged for 20 months in new American oak barrels. This multi-regional blending philosophy is central to the Grange identity, prioritizing consistency of style and complexity over single-vineyard expression.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with saturated, gorgeously sweet blackberry liqueur and dark plum, layered with camphor and mocha. Heady notes of blackcurrant, blueberry, and treacle give way to dark chocolate, vanilla, creamy oak, and subtle hints of mint and eucalyptus in the background.

Taste: The palate is dry and full-bodied, entering with pronounced dark plum and blackberry fruit interwoven with fig and liquorice. Mid-palate reveals dark chocolate, dried meat, and mushroom complexity, supported by medium acidity and high alcohol warmth. Complex fruit and spice flavors sit against a finely focused backdrop of firm but rounded tannins.

Finish: The finish is long and layered, with lingering dark chocolate, dried dark fruit, and gentle oak spice. The tannin structure, now well-integrated with age, provides a polished, persistent close.

How to Drink Grange 1997

A wine of this stature and age is best served in a large-bowled glass at around 16–18°C (61–64°F), allowing it to open gradually over the course of an hour. Decanting for 30 to 60 minutes can help release the layered aromatics, though extended exposure to air should be monitored carefully given the wine's 25+ years of bottle age. This is a wine to drink on its own terms — no cocktail application is appropriate.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone occasion such as a 1997 birth-year or anniversary
• Gifting a serious wine collector or Australian wine enthusiast
• Anchoring a formal dinner with a benchmark Australian red
• Adding a collectible vintage to a cellar of iconic wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Grange 1997 taste like? Grange 1997 delivers a full-bodied, dry palate dominated by dark plum, blackberry, fig, dark chocolate, and liquorice, framed by firm yet rounded tannins and subtle oak spice.

How does Grange 1997 compare to Penfolds St Henri 1997? St Henri is traditionally a lighter, less overtly powerful wine than Grange, made from similarly high-quality fruit but aged without new oak, resulting in a more restrained and less opulent style. Grange 1997's 20 months in new American oak gives it greater richness, structural heft, and dark chocolate complexity.

Is Grange 1997 good for cellaring? With over two decades of bottle age, the 1997 is drinking in a mature window now, though top examples stored in ideal conditions may continue to hold. Its firm tannin backbone and concentrated fruit suggest it still has life, but purchasing for further long-term cellaring carries more risk than drinking in the near term.

Where is Grange 1997 made? Grange 1997 is produced by Penfolds, headquartered at Magill Estate in Adelaide, South Australia. The fruit is sourced from multiple premium vineyard sites across South Australia, including the Barossa Valley, and vinified and aged at Penfolds' winemaking facilities.

What foods pair well with Grange 1997? Slow-braised beef cheeks complement the wine's dark fruit and chocolate depth. Grilled lamb loin with rosemary echoes its savory, herbal undertones. Aged hard cheeses like vintage cheddar or Comté stand up to the wine's concentration. Chargrilled kangaroo fillet or venison match its earthy, meaty complexity. Dark chocolate tart mirrors the cocoa and mocha notes on the finish.

What sizes does Grange 1997 come in? Penfolds Grange 1997 is most commonly found in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Grange 1997 worth the price? Grange occupies the ultra-premium tier of Australian wine, and the 1997 vintage — with strong critical scores from Parker (94), Halliday (94), and Oliver (95) — positions as a collectible release within the Grange lineage. Its value reflects both the wine's proven quality and the prestige of the Grange name in the secondary market.

Why Grange 1997?

The 1997 vintage earned high marks across three of the most respected palates in wine criticism, with Jeremy Oliver awarding 95 points and both Robert Parker and James Halliday scoring it 94. Its blend of 96% Shiraz and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 20 months in new American oak, follows the Grange template established by Max Schubert over seven decades ago — a template that has produced one of the most consistently lauded wines on earth. Now well into its drinking window, the 1997 offers a rare opportunity to experience Grange at a stage where primary fruit intensity, oak integration, and tertiary complexity converge. For collectors and serious drinkers, this vintage represents the intersection of heritage, critical validation, and mature drinkability that defines why Grange remains Australia's benchmark red.