Thanks a bunch!Bin 90A vs 1980s and 90s Grange
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Guest
Bin 90A vs 1980s and 90s Grange
There must be a few of you out there that are lucky enough to have tasted both the Bin 90A and some of the better vintages of Grange from the 80s and 90s. My question is, how does the 90A compare to the Granges? Notes and ratings much appreciated Thanks a bunch!
Thanks a bunch!
From material sent to a friend in February this year:-
"1990 bin 90A Coonawarra CS-barossa shiraz: iconic wine which has at least 2 more if not 3 more decades ahead of it & potential rival to bin 60A, intense blackcurrant with classic cedar this is vinfanticide if you touch it before 2010 at the very earliest and mine are just sitting tight. Tasted: pre-release, on release and last tasted late 2002: slowly coming together and integrating - but needs more time. Who knows how long this wine will live? I know Halliday rates the wine as highly as I do, & Caillard also raves....
1990 bin 920 Coonawarra Cab-shiraz: this is SLIGHTLY lighter but probably still needs a decade to come together - released at the same time as 90A and will probably be a bit smoother but the 90A will be the longer lived and perhaps better wine at their respective peaks : but it will be a very close-run race. Memory and notes suggest all Coonawarra - and perhaps the Barossa/Kalimna fruit suits the blend slightly more. Always tasted alongside the 90A so an interesting juxtaposition of fruit regions inthe Penfolds blend style; if you favour me long enough I will consider opening a bottle in 2010..."
With the exception of the 1986 Grange (still very young), none of the 80s Granges are in the same league as these wines will be.
However, in one sense this is not a fair comparison as the very nature of the top quality blend of Shiraz and Cabernet has teh potential to make a more complex wine than the straight varietal (yes I know that Grange almost always contains some CS - but rarely enough to require disclosure at 15% - and usually something under 10%).
If you can cellar the 920 & 90A properly you are in for a treat.
I could dig up my detailed personal notes on all the Granges but you could just rumble through to Penfolds site and/or buy a Rewards of Patience (new edition is about to hit the street I think) for various expert opinions.
The real opinion that counts is yours: only formed on trying the wine, but as someone who has drunk almost all the special bin numbers on many occasions, the 1962 bin 60A and the 1966 bin 620 stand out regularly - although now you have to hope about the individual bottle- and the 90A and 920 will be worthy successors, whereas the 80A and bin 820 are mere pretenders to the crown.....but you will have to form your own view in the most palatable surrounds.
regards,
fred
"1990 bin 90A Coonawarra CS-barossa shiraz: iconic wine which has at least 2 more if not 3 more decades ahead of it & potential rival to bin 60A, intense blackcurrant with classic cedar this is vinfanticide if you touch it before 2010 at the very earliest and mine are just sitting tight. Tasted: pre-release, on release and last tasted late 2002: slowly coming together and integrating - but needs more time. Who knows how long this wine will live? I know Halliday rates the wine as highly as I do, & Caillard also raves....
1990 bin 920 Coonawarra Cab-shiraz: this is SLIGHTLY lighter but probably still needs a decade to come together - released at the same time as 90A and will probably be a bit smoother but the 90A will be the longer lived and perhaps better wine at their respective peaks : but it will be a very close-run race. Memory and notes suggest all Coonawarra - and perhaps the Barossa/Kalimna fruit suits the blend slightly more. Always tasted alongside the 90A so an interesting juxtaposition of fruit regions inthe Penfolds blend style; if you favour me long enough I will consider opening a bottle in 2010..."
With the exception of the 1986 Grange (still very young), none of the 80s Granges are in the same league as these wines will be.
However, in one sense this is not a fair comparison as the very nature of the top quality blend of Shiraz and Cabernet has teh potential to make a more complex wine than the straight varietal (yes I know that Grange almost always contains some CS - but rarely enough to require disclosure at 15% - and usually something under 10%).
If you can cellar the 920 & 90A properly you are in for a treat.
I could dig up my detailed personal notes on all the Granges but you could just rumble through to Penfolds site and/or buy a Rewards of Patience (new edition is about to hit the street I think) for various expert opinions.
The real opinion that counts is yours: only formed on trying the wine, but as someone who has drunk almost all the special bin numbers on many occasions, the 1962 bin 60A and the 1966 bin 620 stand out regularly - although now you have to hope about the individual bottle- and the 90A and 920 will be worthy successors, whereas the 80A and bin 820 are mere pretenders to the crown.....but you will have to form your own view in the most palatable surrounds.
regards,
fred
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Guest
Re: Bin 90A vs 1980s and 90s Grange
Anonymous wrote:There must be a few of you out there that are lucky enough to have tasted both the Bin 90A and some of the better vintages of Grange from the 80s and 90s. My question is, how does the 90A compare to the Granges? Notes and ratings much appreciated
Why, are you intending to buy some ? Want a hand with the tasting notes
Penfolds Special Bins
Anne and I are great fans of the Penfolds special bin wines and regard them as equals to Grange. It must be said the SB wines are only made in the best years so to compare them to Grange that is made every year may be a bit unfair. Perhaps the comparison should be against Grange from the same vintage.
Also comparing them to early 80's Grange is unfair as the trend in those days was for lean elegant wines with both the 80A and 820 also suffering the same fate. Both are excellent wines but not in the same league as 90A which I believe will rival the 60A in a decade or 2.
We had a 920 recently and were a little dissappointed as our expectation were high after enjoying a 90A last year. The 90A was the best wine I have ever had and that includes Grange.
Also comparing them to early 80's Grange is unfair as the trend in those days was for lean elegant wines with both the 80A and 820 also suffering the same fate. Both are excellent wines but not in the same league as 90A which I believe will rival the 60A in a decade or 2.
We had a 920 recently and were a little dissappointed as our expectation were high after enjoying a 90A last year. The 90A was the best wine I have ever had and that includes Grange.
Thanks to all for the replies! I ask as I have a few bottles of the 90A in store and want to make sure they depart in due company 
From the sounds of it, it will be a while before that's possible. Having said that, the ( thank you Salvador Dali ) 'Great Masturbator' in me would love nothing more than to show up, for example, a 1986 or 1990 Grange with this relative bargain wine It's certainly one I cautiously optimistically look forward to...
From the sounds of it, it will be a while before that's possible. Having said that, the ( thank you Salvador Dali ) 'Great Masturbator' in me would love nothing more than to show up, for example, a 1986 or 1990 Grange with this relative bargain wine It's certainly one I cautiously optimistically look forward to...
For what it is worth...
By James Halliday
Tasting notes from August 1993
1990 Bin 920 - Five Stars
The colour is almost impenetrable, so deep is it. There is amazingly lush, opulent plummy fruit on the bouquet; the palate has layer upon layer of dark plum, cassis and cherry fruit with equally layered soft and supple tannins running throughout. Will be ready long before Bin 90A, though nonetheless has a 20-year future.
Not ready; leave it in the cellar
1990 Bin 90A - Five Stars
Dense red-purple; much tighter and more refined than the Bin 920, very much in the mould of Bin 80A. In the mouth, marvellously concentrated; has a bite to the fruit, an extra edge that Bin 920 doesn't have, with some attractive minty notes. The tannins are there, and the wine will be immensely long-lived - perhaps to 2025.
Not ready; leave it in the cellar
By James Halliday
Tasting notes from August 1993
1990 Bin 920 - Five Stars
The colour is almost impenetrable, so deep is it. There is amazingly lush, opulent plummy fruit on the bouquet; the palate has layer upon layer of dark plum, cassis and cherry fruit with equally layered soft and supple tannins running throughout. Will be ready long before Bin 90A, though nonetheless has a 20-year future.
Not ready; leave it in the cellar
1990 Bin 90A - Five Stars
Dense red-purple; much tighter and more refined than the Bin 920, very much in the mould of Bin 80A. In the mouth, marvellously concentrated; has a bite to the fruit, an extra edge that Bin 920 doesn't have, with some attractive minty notes. The tannins are there, and the wine will be immensely long-lived - perhaps to 2025.
Not ready; leave it in the cellar