Penfolds Grange Dinner at Cafe Maxx

"A mind of the caliber of mine cannot derive its nutrient from cows."  -George Bernard Shaw

One of the reasons that I get out of bed in the morning is to drink wines like Penfolds Grange.  Grange is a symbol of the best that Australia has to offer, the pinnacle of quality and the epitome of what a Shiraz from southeast Australia is and standard bearer should be.  That is why this is an annual event for us- all we ask for is simply the best.  We will preview the newly released 2005 Grange along with a few older vintages of this wine to show you why Grange is the ultimate in Australian Shiraz. 

This event was scheduled for Friday July 23rd but when I called my contact at Fosters to plan the final details for this event. Melanie told me that Peter Gago would be in town on Thursday July 22nd and that he was available to host our event if we changed the date.  Let me think about this for one second - OK!  Peter is one of the most dynamic speakers on the wine industry and he is one of the top dogs in Australia today.  

Chef Oliver Saucy will be preparing a special five course tasting menu to accompany the wines.  This event is limited to 24 people and the fee for this dinner is $295 per person all-inclusive, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Penfolds Grange Dinner at Cafe Maxx
With Special Guest Peter Gago
Thursday July 22nd
7pm

Reception

Wahoo tartare with shallots, heirloom tomato & arugula
Seas scallop with grapefruit, toasted almond and tarragon aioli
Blue point oysters with Pernod garlic butter and lemon bread crumbs
Sweet and sour pork spring roll with mango and cilantro

Penfolds Riesling Eden Valley 2007
List $22.50       Sale $19.80      Sale $230

(89 Points)  The white wines begin with the 2007 Riesling "Bin 51". Medium straw-colored, it presents an attractive nose of slate/mineral, floral aromas, and lemon-lime. This leads to a dry, medium-bodied wine with plenty of citrus fruit, lively acidity, and a refreshing finish. It will evolve in the manner of a top Mosel Riesling but can be enjoyed near-term as well.
Penfolds, arguably Australia’s most famous winery, continues to perform at a high level under the leadership of Head Winemaker, Peter Gago.  Wine Advocate # 173, Oct 2007

First Course

Yellowfin tuna sashimi roasted garlic and basil aioli, grilled Portobello mushrooms and potato frites

Penfolds Pinot Noir Cellar Reserve Adelaide Hills 2005
Price: $38.25    Sale $33.66

(89 Points) There are some terrific red wine bargains in Penfolds’ portfolio. But first, some unusual, but successful reds are being released in the United States. The 2005 Pinot Noir Cellar Reserve (all from Adelaide Hills) displays an authentic Pinot Noir character in its bouquet of sweet and sour cherries, dried herbs, forest floor, and nicely integrated wood as well as acidity. Bottled unfined and unfiltered after spending nine months in equal parts new and old French barriques, it possesses a beautiful texture, surprising weight, and a European sensibility. This beauty demonstrates how far this estate’s winemaking team has progressed in making high class Pinot. It should drink well for 5-6 years.Wine Advocate # 167 Oct 2006

Second Course

Pan seared Moullard duck breast, risotto, golden beets and plum sauce

2005 Penfolds Shiraz Bin 28 Kalimna
Price: $18.75    Sale $16.50      Case $191.25

(88 Points) The 2005 Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz was aged in seasoned American oak hogsheads (500-liter barrels). Purple-colored, it exhibits aromas of cedar, spice box, earth notes, and blueberry. This is followed by a structured wine with slightly reticent spicy, blue fruit flavors, and moderate length. Give it 2-3 years and drink it from 2011 to 2019. Wine Advocate # 178, Aug 2008

Third Course

Hudson valley foie gras terrine, blueberry parfait & toasted walnuts

2006 Penfolds RWT Shiraz
Price: $82.50    Sale $72.60

(95 Points) The 2006 RWT Shiraz was aged for 14 months in 70% new French oak hogsheads. The winery describes its style as opulent and fleshy compared to Grange-s muscular and assertive personality. Opaque purple in color, it offers aromas of Asian spices, beef juice, toast, blueberry, and licorice. Rich, fleshy, and round, it has plenty of underlying tannin, impeccable balance, and a long, pure finish. It will deliver prime drinking from 2014 to 2030. Wine Advocate # 186, Dec 2009

Fourth Course

Wagu rib eye filet, sweet potato gratin, petite onions and red wine demi glace

2006 Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz

(91 Points) The 2006 Magill Estate Shiraz is a single vineyard cuvee aged for 14 months in 71% new French oak hogsheads and 29% new American oak hogsheads. Opaque purple in color, it has a captivating perfume of violets, mocha, tobacco, incense, and blueberry that jumps from the glass. Medium-bodied, elegant, and balanced with enough fine-grained tannin to evolve for several years, it will offer a drinking window extending from 2012 to 2026.  Wine Advocate # 186, Dec 2009

Cheese/Chocolate Course

2005 Penfolds Grange
Price: $540       Sale $399

From humble beginnings in the 1950s, Grange has maintained its place as Australia's most prestigious red wine over four decades. Today, it is a wine of international renown, with each vintage eagerly awaited by collectors both in Australia and overseas.  PENFOLDS Grange is a wine of extraordinary dimension and power. Richly textured, intensely concentrated and packed with fruit sweetness, these wines, regardless of vintage, require medium to long-term cellaring. They develop into immensely complex, beguiling wines that seduce the senses.

An Australian icon, Grange represents a tradition in winemaking that is totally uncompromising. Grange has bypassed the fads and trends of modern winemaking in the sense that it has maintained an integrity of style and remained true to its origins in the mind of Max Schubert. PENFOLDS Grange is the quality standard against which all other Australian red wines are judged. To share a mature Grange, 15 to 20 years old, in fine condition, is one of the great wine experiences.

1998 Penfolds Grange
Price: $525       Sale $462

(99 Points) The 1998 Grange will be legendary. A blend of 97% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, it tips the scales at a whopping 14.5% alcohol. The inky/purple color is followed by an extraordinarily intense nose of creme de cassis intermixed with blueberry and floral notes. As the wine sits in the glass, aromas of meat, plums, and cola also emerge. It is a seamless effort with sweet tannin, well-integrated acidity, sensational extract, and layer upon layer of blackberry and cassis fruit that stain the palate and fill the mouth. Its harmony, freshness, and remarkable length (the finish lasts nearly a minute) suggest an all-time classic. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030. Wine Advocate # 148 August 2003

Dessert

Summer cherry Clafouti with white chocolate drizzle

This event is limited to 24 people and the fee for this dinner is $295 per person all-inclusive, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Penfolds Wines Available in the store:

These are Two GREAT values from the Bin Series.

2006 Penfolds Shiraz Bin 128 Coonawarra
Price: $23.75    Sale $20.90
Quantity in Stock: 17

(91 Points)  Crisp, open-textured and beguiling for its beautifully proportioned blackberry, currant, plum and spice flavors, hinting at black pepper as the finish sails on enticingly. Best from 2011 through 2018. 13,000 cases imported. -HS  Wine

2005 Penfolds Shiraz Bin 28 Kalimna
Price: $18.75    Sale $16.50
Quantity in Stock: 20

(88 Points)  The 2005 Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz was aged in seasoned American oak hogsheads (500-liter barrels). Purple-colored, it exhibits aromas of cedar, spice box, earth notes, and blueberry. This is followed by a structured wine with slightly reticent spicy, blue fruit flavors, and moderate length. Give it 2-3 years and drink it from 2011 to 2019.  Wine Advocate # 178
Aug 2008

RWT (Red Wine Trial)

RWT (Red Wine Trial) was created in 1997 by John Duval and is one of the first wines to be aged in 100% new French oak.  RWT draws fruit from 20 to 100 year-old vineyards arcing across the west and north-west of the Barossa Valley, mostly independently grown. The best vineyards produce fruit of voluptuous intensity, ripe tannins, and juicy flavours. The RWT Shiraz has a very seductive style with a plum/blueberry fruit profile and fine ripe tannins underpinned by savory French oak.  Since its first vintage in 1997, collectors have recognized the sheer class of RWT. Already the wine has a strong secondary market following, illustrating its collect ability and cellaring potential.

2004 Penfolds RWT Shiraz
Price: $82.50    Sale $72.60
Quantity in Stock: 14

(95 Points) The 2004 Shiraz "RWT" was barrel-fermented and aged for 14 months in 69% new French oak. Opaque purple-colored, it delivers an expressive nose of smoke, leather, grilled bacon, game, blueberry, and licorice. Full-bodied, it is dense, ripe, and layered as well as opulent. More forward than the Magill Estate, this hedonistic Shiraz can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve for another 8-10 years. Penfolds, arguably Australia’s most famous winery, continues to perform at a high level under the leadership of Head Winemaker, Peter Gago. Wine Advocate # 173, October 2007

2002 Penfolds Shiraz RWT
Price: $82.50
Quantity in Stock: 12

(93 Points)  The outstanding 2002 Shiraz RWT is a 100% Shiraz, single region (Barossa) offering that typically spends 14 months in a combination of two-thirds new and one-third old French oak. Expansive and rich with a broad texture, and a complex nose of white chocolate, raspberries, black cherries, and licorice, this spicy, rich, medium-bodied, elegant 2002 should drink well for 10-12 years.  Wine Advocate # 161, October 2005
           
Magill Estate

The Magill Estate is one of the only single vineyard wines that Penfolds makes today.  The historic and heritage-protected Penfolds Magill Estate is one of the few single vineyards in the world located within city boundaries.  Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz was developed after the vineyard was saved from being engulfed by urban development, with a single estate wine being compelling justification for the continued use of this vineyard (by then, just 5.2 hectares of the 120 hectares which once covered an entire hillside). A meager 350 cases of this wine are exported to the U.S.

1996 Penfolds Shiraz Magill Estate South Australia
Price: $60.00    Sale $52.80
Quantity in Stock: 4

(92 Points)  A very interesting wine, balancing tangy red plum and blueberry flavors with rich chocolate, spice and toast overtones. Long and tasty, this feels like it can grow and grow. Drink now through 2006. 175 cases imported. -HS Wine Spectator

1997 Penfolds Shiraz Magill Estate South Australia
Price: $56.25    Sale $49.50
Quantity in Stock: 11

(91 Points) Crisp, aristocratic style lets its ripe berry and cherry pour over a steely frame, shading it with leather and peppery spice nuances. The flavors linger enticingly. Atypical, but special. Best from 2003 through 2012. 2,033 cases made. -HS

2003 Penfolds Shiraz Magill Estate Australia
Price: $56.25    Sale $49.50
Quantity in Stock: 9

Grange - The Ultimate Aussie Collectible

For a wine grower in Southeast Australia it is the highest honor to have your grapes selected to go into Penfolds Grange.  Not only is the grower notified that their grapes have been selected for Grange but the grower is paid $10,000 per ton for the fruit and they are given one of the most prized of all collectibles from Australia- a magnum of Grange from that vintage!

1997 Penfolds Grange South Australia Magnum
Price: $900.00  Sale $792
Quantity in Stock: 1
           
(92 Points) Not huge, more of a human-scale Grange, with beautiful plum and blueberry fruit that shines right through the long, crisp, fine-grained finish. A lovely wine, though it doesn't quite show the grandeur of great Grange vintages. Drink now through 2010. 10,000 cases made. -HS Wine Spectator Issue: Sep 30, 2002

2004 Penfolds Grange Shiraz South Australia
Price: $487.00  Sale Price: $428.56
Quantity in Stock: 1

(99 Points)  The 2004 vintage was outstanding in Barossa, McLaren Vale, and Magill, the regions where the grapes were sourced for the marvelous 2004 Grange. It contains 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged for 16 months in 100% new American oak hogsheads. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it displays a superb nose of wood smoke, Asian spices, incense, game, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. Medium to full-bodied, satin textured, with deeply layered, succulent blackberry, plum, and chocolate flavors, it has the structure and complexity to merit extended cellaring of a decade and more. The winery estimates a drinking curve of 2016 to 2050; I-d be a bit more conservative on the long end of the range. It will ultimately be seen as one of the great vintages of Grange.  Wine Advocate # 186, Dec 2009

The Ultra Rare Block Wines

These wines are only made in very special vintages and are made in tiny quantities of 500 cases or less.  These two wines are the ultimate in collectibles from Australia.

2004 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Block 42
List $395          Sale $347.50
Quantity in Stock: 6

(96+ Points)  The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Block 42 Kalimna (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) spent 13 months in 100% new 300 liter American hogsheads. The result is an opaque purple-colored Cabernet displaying a gorgeously intense perfume of graphite, acacia flowers, black truffles, blueberries, and blackberries. It is seamless, full-bodied, and opulent, with amazing intensity as well as high tannin levels. The latter component is largely concealed by a sensational cascade of fruit and glycerin. This remarkable wine should age gracefully for 20-25 years.Wine Advocate # 167, Oct 2006

2004 Penfolds Cabernet Shiraz Bin 60A
List $395          Sale $347.50
Quantity in Stock: 6

2004 Penfolds Cabernet Shiraz Bin 60A MAGNUMS
List $995          Sale $845.75
Quantity in Stock: 3

(98 Points)  The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Bin 60A Kalimna is a blend of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) and Barossa Shiraz (44%). Its blackberry, blueberry, tar, lead pencil shavings, licorice, and spice box-scented bouquet is followed by a wine boasting an unctuous texture buttressed by decent acidity as well as fabulous extract and richness. This stunning blend should have a minimum of three decades of aging potential and be a true collector’s item for many years to come.