1973 Penfolds Grange - 40 years on

[Sipper]

Hi All,

Had my 40th birthday on the 6th November and was taken to lunch by my wonderful wife. As lunch began I was given a wooden box and a card. To my surprise a bottle of 1973 Grange was inside. Wow.

A week later and a little concerned after many nights reading reviews, I was quite certain that this was going to be an experience and a lovely memento bottle rather than a drinkable wine. The '73 is also an anniversary bottle as it was the last time wax lined cement tanks were used. The next year was stainless steel.

As per the instructions of a good friend, we called on another couple to come over and experience the wine with us last Sunday. It stood for 24 hours and the cork removed in one piece and was soaked to about 80% of the length of it. Putting it to my nose I realised we were in with a fighting chance as the smell of leather and tar wafted. Being 4 Grange virgins standing around a bottle that was a bit of an outside chance (according to Don Ditter in 1999 - Penfolds website) we looked at each other in amazement.

A gentle decant for sediment gave off wonderful aromas, rich leather and chocolate and the pleasant tar smell, the nice part of the aroma of a freshly laid bitumen road. The brick red colour was remarkable and something I have not ever seen before. But can't wait to see again!

Poured into 4 glasses we sipped the wine as Cam read the tasting notes, stocky fruit and a beautiful berry nose as you took the wine from the glass into your mouth, everything except the nutmeg was present. It was truly wonderful and I will remember that taste for the rest of my life.

The remaining wine and sediment was strained through an unbleached filter paper and provided a further 10-20 ml into a separate glass. We forgot about this until about 45 minutes later, laughing and happy that we had enjoyed such a beautiful experience together. Upon tasting the remaining 10-20 ml it appeared that the wine had started to fall over. This was a really interesting part of the experience as this was the warning from my good friend who suggested we share the bottle between 4 because of this reason.

All in all it was a wonderful experience, a memory of sharing and friendship and a restored faith in the bottle that may have the odds against it but delivers absolute magnificence. It was the type of wine that if you had another few bottles we all would have sat there all night and happily gone to work on Monday with sore heads. A wonderful night had by all.

Sipper

[LGW]

It was truly wonderful and I will remember that taste for the rest of my life....

All in all it was a wonderful experience, a memory of sharing and friendship Sipper

This is the reason which makes wine so special.
Thanks sipper

[Waiters Friend]

A delightful experience indeed, and well described, Sipper

My only experience with 1973 Grange was in 1993, when it might just be hitting the drinking window. It was my first experience of Grange, and my memories are more about the occasion than the taste of the wine.

Cheers

Allan