Syrah is widely planted throughout the world, but that was not so until the late twentieth century when Syrah was principally grown in the Rhone Valley and, as Shiraz, in Australia. Stylistically, the Palate Character of Syrah can vary depending on ripeness from a rich Round & Fleshy, Tone & Backbone, to a Powerful & Extracted. The flavors and aromas can also vary with a dark, sometimes sweet, fruit character, varying amount of spice, floral, and earth, and smoke, and meaty aromas and flavors.
Penfolds was founded in 1844 by Dr. Chistopher and Mary Penfold because Dr. Penfold felt wine had a positive effect on his patients. They had immediate success—by 1877, when Dr. Penfold passed away, the estate had already grown to 25 hectares and by 1907 it became the largest winery in Australia.
In 1948 Max Schubert was appointed the first Chief Winemaker and became responsible for two significant achievements: the advent of the "bin system" and the creation of Grange, one of the most famous and coveted wines in the world.
Grange is 98% shiraz with 2% cabernet sauvignon aged in 100% new-American oak. These palate-staining wines are intensely perfumed with expressive aromas of ripe dark fruit, vanilla, and chocolate with complex spice notes.