$3000 a bottle for a new-release non-vintage red blend

Penfolds has released a unique wine blended from three Grange vintages spanning seven years, named Penfolds g3.

A Penfolds first, these vintages of 2008, 2012 and 2014 (a vintage to be globally released in 2018) have been blended together to create “a completely unique Grange expression”.

Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago said: “Put simply it’s Penfolds ‘house style’ distilled”.

Gago adds: “Penfolds g3 is a natural end result of the venerated art of blending. It is a blend where each individual vintage selected delivers a depth of character and flavour honouring our flagship Grange”.

Blending across vintages is part of Penfolds winemaking philosophy and has been since 1844.

Penfolds Tawny styles, famous in the mid 1800s, continue a long tradition of fortified wines that celebrate this particular blending style.

Two of the Grange vintages selected for this wine are recognised as being among the finest Granges released, so why blend them?

Gago said: “It wasn't about selecting the biggest or the best Grange vintages, in fact, it was

about making something different – but not just to be different.

“Each Grange vintage component selected to make this wine brings something different to the final blend. Broadly: Grange 2008 is a big bold wine, Grange 2012 is about elegance and sophistication, while 2014 is a young wine that serves to ‘freshen up the blend’." 

Launched in Hong Kong last night, g3 is impressively complex and will be much-sought-after by collectors. I was able to taste the wine a few weeks ago (and then sworn to secrecy) but to be totally honest it did not float my boat. I'll take 30+ bottles of St Henri any day. 

The original experimental 1951 Grange created by Max Schubert is now a wine regarded as one of the world’s most celebrated collectables.

Only 1,200 bottles of g3 are available around the world and the price will be $3000 for a 750ml bottle. You can't buy it just any old where. Expressions of interest can be lodged via www.penfolds.com.