1977 Penfolds Grange Hermitage
Drinking Window: Now – 2012
Deep brick red. Intense blackberry/smoked oyster/meaty aromas. The palate is quite forward anddeveloped with meaty/leather/spice/bitumen flavours and fine, grainy, slightly sappy tannins. Finishes dry and tight.
91% Shiraz, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. Kalimna Vineyard (Barossa Valley), Barossa Valley, Magill Estate (Adelaide) and Clare Valley. Cool, mild conditions prevailed during the growing season.
Notes sourced from Penfolds
Region: Barossa Valley, Magill & Clare Valley
Grape varieties: 91% Shiraz & 9% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 13.5% Total acids: 5.3 grams per litre pH: 3.71
Growing season/vintage: Fairly cool season followed by mild conditions at vintage. The 1977s are generally lighter, more elegant wines and not for long term cellaring.
Comments: The last Grange to be entered in Australian wine shows, winning silver medals in 1981 and 1982. By this time Grange was firmly established in Australia and had nothing further to gain from show success. The wine was also too easy to recognise. However, some more recent vintages of Grange have been entered in international competitions. The 1977 is considered a good but not outstanding Grange. However, Robert Parker gave it 95/100 points in 1990.
Tasting notes: size> Elegant wine, complex fruit/oak aroma. Lighter than 1976, needs years to soften. (Rewards of Patience, 1st ed., 1985)
Good structure and balance. Big and rich, but becoming elegant and drinkable. (Rewards of Patience, 2nd ed., 1990)
Deep, dark hue but not as intense a colour as 1976. Truffle, undergrowth, earth and caramel in the bouquet. Another chewy, tannic wine with a very dry finish; savoury, chocolatey, with high extract. Not particularly complex and lacks the charm of the best years. Still plenty of life ahead. Drink 1995 to 2005. (Huon Hooke, 1993)
Complex bouquet reminiscent of truffles, "old earth" and caramel with a hint of spice. Finely structured palate showing dense, savoury, cedar and leather-like fruit and pronounced tannins. (Rewards of Patience, 3rd ed., 1994)
"Purple/red. Sweet, dark chocolate/biary aromas with hints of tar and roasted meat. Richly flavoured palate with dark chocolate/ berry fruit, looseknit but slightly bitter tannins and long finish. Good overall balance but is unlikely to improve. Will hold. Drink between now and 2007." (Southcorp Wines, The Rewards of Patience, Fourth Edition, March 2000)