Ranked #2 of 15 1994 Shiraz from South Australia
96/100
5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Full brick-red colour with a pronounced tawny rim. The bouquet is magically complex, with aromas of raisins, licorice, squashed ants, smoked oysters, indeed all sorts of roasted things. A superb old wine, this bottle is fully mature now, and possibly a tad more developed than I would expect of a 24 year-old Grange from a top vintage. Still, it's no obstacle to enjoying the wine on the day.
Tasted: 28/08/2018
Drink: 2018 to 2023
94 Points Robert Parker
A substantial 11% of the 1994 Grange is Cabernet Sauvignon, and it's most clearly apparent on the elegant, leafy, floral nose. On the palate, it's more clearly Grange and Shiraz-like, with plenty of weight and richness along with flavors of dried fruit, roasted meat and mocha, but there's also a sense that it's starting to lighten and become approachable/mature. Drink now or hold up to another 10 years or so.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Joe Czerwinski. October, 2018
91 Points Robert Parker
This is the first vintage where Grange went to a bottle with laser-etched identification numbers to preclude the possibility of fraudulent bottles. The wine, a blend of 89% Shiraz and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, shows some toasty oak mixed with notes of root vegetables, damp earth, blackberry liqueur, prune, and licorice. The wine is dense, full-bodied, not terribly complex in the mouth, but layered and rich. I would not be surprised to see the rating on this wine improve as this youthful Grange continues to evolve. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Robert M. Parker, Jr. February, 2002
97 Points James Halliday
Dense red-purple; the typically rich and powerful bouquet has layers of dark berry fruit and integrated and balanced oak. What makes it unusual is the distinct hint of chocolate, which appears again on the silkily powerful palate. Here there is an array of all of the fruit flavours one could possibly expect, but once again that touch of dark Swiss chocolate adding an intriguing note. The oak balance and integration is better than any five-year-old Grange I can remember, the tannins perfectly balanced into the bargain. Drink to 2024.
Source: James Halliday. March, 1999
This is the first vintage where Grange went to a bottle with laser-etched identification numbers to preclude the possibility of fraudulent bottles. The wine, a blend of 89% Shiraz and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, shows some toasty oak mixed with notes of root vegetables, damp earth, blackberry liqueur, prune, and licorice. The wine is dense, full-bodied, not terribly complex in the mouth, but layered and rich. I would not be surprised to see the rating on this wine improve as this youthful Grange continues to evolve. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020.Source: Robert Parker (eRobertParker.com) February, 2002 by Robert Parker
note: this bottle may seep a bit during shipping, which is normal for older or ullaged bottles