PENFOLDS
SOUTH AUSTRALIA & NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
WHY BUY:
A prize of a collection of wines from Australia’s “First Growth,” with a triumphal crowning glory: the 75th Anniversary Museum Release Vertical of Grange, a four-bottle span from 2018 through 2021 that includes two perfect 100-pointers (the 2018 earned that score from no fewer than eight critics around the world), a 98-pointer, and a 97-pointer. Beyond this centerpiece, we're also bringing you a deep selection from their current portfolio, from their entry-level, value-laden Bin 28 Shiraz (a steal at 94 points and $28 a bottle) to their 100-point Bin 95 Grange 2021: wines of complex majesty, concentration, and length that are also remarkably approachable right now … and that amply demonstrate why Penfolds remains one of the world's most collected producers.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
The 75th Anniversary Museum Release Vertical represents a stunning achievement: the 2018 Grange earned perfect 100-point scores from eight different critics around the world, with Lisa Perrotti-Brown declaring it "undoubtedly one of the great modern era Granges," featuring a palate that's "taut and muscular" with a finish that goes "long, long, long." The 2021 Grange also commanded 100 points, with leading Australian critic Ken Gargett calling it "a Lord-take-me-now wine, if ever there was one... seamless, intense and immaculate with knife-edge balance. It simply dances with joy." Wine Spectator awarded the 2019 Grange 98 points, praising it as "an epic wine that doesn't quit... the tannins are filling in the mouth, but never get in the way of all the complexity, while the finish just goes on and on." The 2020 Grange took home 97 points from the Wine Enthusiast, which called it "a powerful wine, thanks to a mouth-full of hefty tannins, but they're well-integrated, setting this up for a very long life ahead." Beyond the Vertical, the scores just keep piling up. Decanter awarded the Bin 95 Grange 2021 a stunning 99 points, declaring it "opulent," "seductive," and "incredible" with "mouthfilling silky tannins" and "sumptuous aromas." James Suckling gave the Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 a perfect 97 points, praising it as "such a refined and focused Cabernet Sauvignon, deeply perfumed and lifted... silken, textural... with a creamy, chocolaty finish. An Australian classic of the highest order."
THE STORY:
That a winery that began so humbly in 1844 — as a producer of medicinal fortified wines, no less — has evolved into one of the world's most iconic producers is, surely, one of the great stories in wine. What Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold started for therapeutic purposes became, under generations of visionary winemakers, something far more ambitious: a pursuit of profound pleasure in the glass. Key to their success has been what the erstwhile Washington Post critic Dave McIntyre termed their "no-borders, house-style philosophy”: the practice of blending across regional vineyard sites to achieve a striking consistency and complexity, regardless of vintage variations. Under chief winemaker Peter Gago, who has commanded the estate for more than three decades, Penfolds has expanded beyond Australia to Champagne, Bordeaux, California, and China. But here's what hasn't changed: that uncanny ability to produce wines of enormous depth and intensity that nevertheless dance on the palate, with the characteristic length and smoothness that makes them irresistibly easy to drink.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
In our recent tasting — a wonderful tour that spanned the Museum Release Vertical to the Bin series — we marveled, again and again, at how these very different wines share a fascinating common denominator: that of an enormous approachability married to a matured depth. The Grange bottlings deliver that signature power and polish, mouth-filling and resonant with tannins that are firm yet remarkably integrated, setting them up for decades of evolution. There's genuine heft here, but never at the expense of finesse or balance. And the 2018 and 2021 are, quite simply, masterpieces that deserve a place in any serious collection. The Bin 707 Cabernet shows why pure varietal expression at Penfolds rivals anything from Napa, with silken texture and a creamy, chocolaty finish that lingers beautifully. Even the more accessible offerings like the Bin 389 ("Baby Grange" to its fans) and Bin 28 Shiraz display that Penfolds hallmark: lush, plush fruit seamlessly balanced with structure, finishing with impeccable precision. These are wines that seduce with their richness and softness, yet possess the depth and length to reward patient cellaring, too.
THE SPECS:
Penfolds' blending philosophy is rooted in multi-regional sourcing. The Grange draws from sites across Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Clare Valley, combining Shiraz with Cabernet Sauvignon and aging it for up to a year-and-a-half in new American oak hogsheads. The Bin 707 represents pure Cabernet expression from Penfolds' most prized sites, while the California-sourced Bin 600 and 704 speaks to their cross-continental vision: here we find vines from Barossa transplanted to Napa soil, making for a canny bridge between Old World and New World styles.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH:
The Museum Release Vertical and Bin 95 Grange are special occasion wines of the highest order — set these aside for that majestic standing rib roast or perfectly aged prime rib. As for the Bin 707 and 149 Cabernets, they seem to have been built for rack of lamb, while the Bin 389 and Bin 28 Shiraz will enhance any juice-dripping grilled steak, savory double-cut pork chop, or lacquered duck.
FUN FACT:
Penfolds’ fanatical commitment to quality extends well beyond the winery. The company has gained a degree of renown for its recorking clinics, wherein owners of bottles 15 years or older can have their wines assessed, topped up, and recorked if necessary.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate to ensure pristine provenance. Secure yours today, and please note: the 75th Anniversary Museum Release Vertical is exceptionally limited, so hurry to claim your piece of history!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2026. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer is for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025.