2005 Australia

Grange remains Australia's most iconic wine, a brilliant, multi-vineyard blend drawn largely from the Barossa Valley (88% in this vintage) and composed of 96% Syrah and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. In great years it is unquestionably fit to rank alongside the finest red wines of the world. 2005 proved to be a very fine growing season for South Australia, with a perfect budburst followed by ideal conditions which saw the grapes reach maturity about 2 weeks earlier than usual. However, temperate conditions without excessive heat allowed the growers to leave the grapes on the vine and acquire even greater maturity, but not over-ripeness, for a further week or two. 

The bouquet displays pronounced black fruit character with earthy, forest undergrowth notes and hints of grilled meat. On the palate there is once again an abundance of dark fruit, cherries, plum and blackberry, with aniseed and dark chocolate notes. The wine is matured in 100% new American oak but the wood is totally submerged, such is the concentrated intensity of the wine. Tannins are there in abundance, but they are ripe and finely-grained, and the length of the wine is extraordinary.