Penfolds Grange 2013 is the house’s flagship red, a South Australia blend built around Shiraz with a small addition of Cabernet Sauvignon. Reviewers cite slightly different proportions—James Suckling calls it “97% shiraz and 3% cabernet sauvignon,” while Decanter and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate describe “96% Shiraz and 4% Cabernet.” The sourcing is similarly cross-regional: Suckling points to Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and Magill Estate, while Wine Advocate names Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Magill Estate. However you slice it, this is Grange in its classic multi-region mold.
The critical reception is exceptional. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded a perfect 100 points, with Lisa Perrotti-Brown describing a wine that “makes you wait… and then it bursts forth and delivers!” She highlights a “profoundly scented nose” and says it has “a rock-solid frame” and “should easily cellar for 40+ years.” Decanter’s 98-point review calls it “a stunning Grange” and notes it “easily compares in quality to 2010 and 2012,” projecting enjoyment “for the next 30 to 40 years” (drinking window 2020–2055). James Suckling (98) calls it “very intense” with “tar and coal-smoke aromas,” and concludes, “Really is exceptionally complete, but tight, needs time to open… better after 2023.”
In the glass, the descriptors converge on dark fruit, savory richness, and polished power. Wine Spectator (97) finds it “bold, with plenty of power and grace,” layering “espresso and milk chocolate” over “wild blackberry and maraschino cherry,” with “tremendous harmony” on the “epic finish,” suggesting “Drink now through 2037” and noting “897 cases imported.” Wine Enthusiast (95) emphasizes how “beguiling” it is even young, with “raw meat and miso savoriness,” advising decanting now but recommending time in cellar. Vinous (96) underscores the perfume and energy, citing “dark berry preserves, cherry-cola, pipe tobacco” and a “strikingly long, seamless finish” with “well-integrated tannins.”
