Penfolds Shiraz South Australia Grange 1994

97 points James Halliday (Wine Companion): "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 by 2024. (3/16/99)"

96 points/'Top 100 Wines of 1999 (#25),' Wine Spectator: "magnificent edifice of a wine, elegant and refined in structure but dripping with flavor--a virtual cascade of plum, black cherry, blackberry, anise, pepper and exotic spices that lingers on the finish; this just doesn't quit. Best after 2002. 780 cases imported. (11/30/99)"

96 points Wine Enthusiast: "This wine, Australia's most famous, is literally black. Aroma of sweet charred American oak dominates, with associated vanilla. Underneath is pepper, tobacco, spice and blackberry; complex and beautiful. Tremendous extract, marvelously thick like fruit purée, enormous and bone dry. The finish lasts forever. A huge, effusive wine that needs 15 years to settle down. 89% Shiraz and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. (Oct 1999)"

95+ points John Kapon (Vintage Tastings): "The 1994 Penfolds Grange (11% Cabernet, 18 months in oak) Gil kept cooing over. I got unusual but benevolent rubber tire and cola in the nose, along with more typical eucalyptus, menthol, black licorice and a mélange of cassis and black cherry. Peter felt the 1994 ‘calls out for food.’ It did have huge t ‘n a with a tidal wave of a finish and great minerality. Big, long and massive with port-like flavors, this ’94 left the 1990 in the dust as far as the matchup of the two heavyweight styles went. (5/23/08)"

94 points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "The 1994 Penfolds Grange (11% Cabernet, 18 months in oak) Gil kept cooing over. I got unusual but benevolent rubber tire and cola in the nose, along with more typical eucalyptus, menthol, black licorice and a mélange of cassis and black cherry. Peter felt the 1994 ‘calls out for food.’ It did have huge t ‘n a with a tidal wave of a finish and great minerality. Big, long and massive with port-like flavors, this ’94 left the 1990 in the dust as far as the matchup of the two heavyweight styles went. Drink: 2018-2030. (Oct 2018)"