Expensive but is Grange The deal Dans aoffered was amazing to get hold of wine like Grange was a steal

Had a small taste at a friends house, definitely a powerhouse wine but is 2012 as good as the 1996. Not since John Duval 1996 vintage, does chemical composition confirm a 40+ year lifespan. Wine reviewers including MW’s are fantastic guides however a wine’s analysis should not be over looked. Give that all components, its varietal character & purity of fruit combined with structure, tannins, length & acidity are harmoniously balanced the chemical composition is a vital factor giving winemakers an insight into the wine’s ability to age. Red varietals with an analysis of 13.5% Alc/Vol 7.0 Acidityg/L 3.4 pH are built for the long haul where as an analysis of 13.5% Alc/Vol 6.6 Acidityg/L 3.6 pH confirms 10 year span. Compare 2012 Vintages analysis Alc/Vol: 14.5%, Acidity: 6.8 g/L, pH: 3.63 to better vintages below 1996 Alc/Vol: 14.20% Acidity: 7.20g/L pH: 3.41 1990 Alc/Vol: 13.50% Acidity: 7.10g/L pH: 3.41 1991 Alc/Vol: 13.50% Acidity: 7.30g/L pH: 3.32. 1986 Alc/Vol: 13.90% Acidity: 7.10g/L pH: 3.41 1983Alc/Vol: 13.30% Acidity: 7.10g/L pH: 3.41 The 2012 like 2010 & 2008 vintages have all had excellent reviews however their chemical analysis suggests these wines aging potential is not as assured the above vintages. Time will tell.

Colour: Deep dense dark ruby red. Almost like the colour of Guinness. When I did the tasting, I referred to the colour as “Black Beauty” Aroma: (This could take a while.) From the time the wine left the decanter and was poured into my glass I knew I was in for a ride. This wine is a complex labyrinth of character. Aside from the usual theme of black fruit, there is just so much more to this wine than simple aromas alone. I was getting nuances of soy, salted caramel, liquorice, chocolate and mocha. Every time I went back to the glass there was something new I picked up. Charcoal, jarrah timber, charred game meat, barbeque marinade (paprika). Seriously, how long is a piece of string? Palate: Full bodied (No surprises there), dark rich and plump full of flavour and impact. Unlike its 2010 Brother, this wine was quite more approachable now and wasn’t upset I rattled its cage. Tannin is still tight, but there is an elegance to this wine that I did not find in the 2010. I get liquorice, black berry and olive up front. But like the nose every time I returned for the next mouthful I got introduced to just as many characteristics as I did on the nose. Mocha, grounded coffee, charcoal all brought around from the oak. The wine takes on a “meaty” quality and I was starting to find that this wine tasted like the bottom of a roasting pan after cooking a lamb leg. Add in the deglazing agent which sweetens out these pan juices and that came out in this wine. The finish still displays a tight tannin and as we know Grange is made to last. (No exceptions here), but there is an underlying sweetness that plays along throughout this wine best way to describe it as a barbeque soy and honey glaze combined with spices, the kind you put over pork ribs. This wine displays all these elements. I spent 40 minutes with this wine. However, I feel that if I spent longer with this wine there would have been other things I would have picked out of the palate too. It is nothing short of phenomenal. The Length of this wine just goes on and on and on… Tasted 30/10/2016 Rating 100/100