Penfolds - Grange 2013

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Remember that old Heinz Ketchup “anticipation” ad from the 1970s? The palate of this 2013 Grange does just that. It makes you wait with so much delicious promise being drip fed into the mouth at first—and then it bursts forth and delivers! This vintage is a blend of 96% Shiraz and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, coming from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Magill Estate. Very deep inky purple-black colored, the 2013 Grange has a profoundly scented nose of crème de cassis, preserved black plums, blueberry pie and licorice over nuances of baker’s chocolate, smoky bacon and fragrant earth, plus exotic spice wafts of cumin seed, cardamom, fenugreek and star anise. Unfurling and slowly building in the medium to full-bodied mouth with wonderful grace and depth, it reveals an incredible array of ripe black fruit, spice, meat and earth-inspired flavors, with a rock-solid frame to support this beauty (it should easily cellar for 40+ years!), while previously latent flavors emerge fully on the epically long finish, culminating in that ultimate Grange experience. Oh, yes."

DECANTER: "A blend of 96% Shiraz and 4% Cabernet, this is a stunning Grange which easily compares in quality to 2010 and 2012. It is big, flamboyant and hedonistic on the nose and palate - the former is full of kirsch, mulberry, balsam and a generous dollop of purposeful VA to lift the massive aroma from the glass. The latter is equally sweet, rich and dense as it brims with saturated flavours encompassing damson, blackberry, liquorice, espresso, tarmac and cola. And so it’s little or no surprise that this is also full to bursting with tannic heft and dry extract mouthfeel, all of which is expertly assuaged by refreshing acidity to keep it lithe and supple. It’s still too young to say where this will sit in the Grange pantheon, but it’s almost certainly going to be one to watch and enjoy for the next 30 to 40 years."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Zart nussig unterlegte Schokonote, schwarze Beeren, feine Vanille, ein Hauch von Perigord-Trüffeln und Edelholz, balsamische Würze, sehr verführerisches Bukett. Stoffig, komplex, reife Herzkirschen und Cassis, runde, tragende Tannine, extraktsüßer Abgang, sehr gute Frische und Harmonie, wirkt bereits sehr gut zugänglich, etwas Nougat im Abgang, bereits in der Jugend ein toller Speisenbegleiter."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Heady and luscious on the nose. Graceful and seamless, with fabulous tannin management. Already such a great drink – so long as you don’t mind the slightly burnt edge on the finish. Very long."

WINE SPECTATOR: " This is bold, with plenty of power and grace. Dense and lush up front, featuring aromatic notes of espresso and milk chocolate, with a core of fresh, juicy raspberry coulis, wild blackberry and maraschino cherry flavors. Perfumed gingerbread, licorice, sandalwood and Kalamata olive details emerge on the epic finish, showing tremendous harmony. Drink now through 2037. 897 cases imported."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A good Grange, approachable yet impressive, it is reminiscent of the 2009. Smells of deep ripe dark plum and redder fruits, the oak jumps in and out of the nose, quite rich blackberry compote, dark spices, tar and earth. There’s density and depth in the palate, this embraces the full bodied and fully ripe capacity of the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Magill Estate fruit. The fruit is persistent, commanding and dense, it delivers power in a more traditional shape. Best from 2022 and two or more decades hence."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Penfold's latest Grange release delivers all of the power, rich fruit and toasty oak Australia's most famous wine is noted for. It is incredibly beguiling though, even in its infancy. Autumnal notes of dried leaves, flowers, sap and dark berries abound, with a raw meat and miso savoriness. The power on the palate is balanced by ultrafine tannins and a finesse that makes this drinkable now with plenty of time in decanter and paired alongside roast lamb, beef, or something equally hearty. Still, it'd be a shame not to cellar for at least the next five years."