Category: Penfolds

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Penfolds Chardonnay

Penfolds Chardonnay

Penfolds Chardonnay

When visiting Penfolds’ Magill Estate, I had the great pleasure of tasting many different wines – not just Shiraz, but also two brilliant Chardonnays. As is the case for all white wines, the entire cellar process takes place in Penfolds’ cellars in Barossa Valley. The fruit for the two Chardonnays comes partly from New South Wales, partly from Tasmania – which has a cold climate, therefore, emphasising fruit and acidity – and Adelaide Hills.

  • Bin 311 Chardonnay (2023)

Fruit from Tumbarumba (NSW), Tasmania, and Adelaide Hills. It seeks especially to express the style of a fruity cold-climate Chardonnay, rather than being terroir-driven. This results in a fresh and fruity wine, with pleasant minerality. Depending on the vintage, fruit from other regions will be blended in to match the house style. Fermented in 225L oak barrels (30% new) with lees stirring, and matured 8 months in oak barrels, the wine opens with aromas of lemon, apple and quince, along with floral and pear notes, underscored by subtle oak. Slight flinty note. Creamy texture, medium acidity. Medium alcohol, medium (+) body, nice medium (+) finish. Elegant and approachable. TBM 92 points.

Penfolds Chardonnay

Penfolds Chardonnay

  • Reserve Bin 16A Chardonnay (2016) – Adelaide Hills

This Chardonnay is based upon fruit from Piccadilly Valley to Birdwood in Adelaide Hills, vineyards at an altitude of up to 611 meters. Thus, the vines are exposed to cold climate influences from altitude. This leads to a fresh and fruity wine, with good acidity.

The must is completely fermented in barrels and undergoes 100% malolactic conversion. This gives the wine a creamy, almost buttery note. Therefore, the wine has great texture and mouthfeel. Pronounced aromas of grapefruit, lime, bitter lemon, grapefruit zest, with a flinty and oyster note. Dry, with medium (+) acidity, medium alcohol, medium (+) body and a medium (+) finish. A mineral Chardonnay, refined with judicious oak. Balanced, expressive, and deeply satisfying. TBM 93 points.

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Penfolds Rieslings – Clare and Eden Valley

Penfolds Bin 51 and Cellar Reserve

Penfolds Rieslings – Clare and Eden Valley

When visiting Penfolds during my trip to Australia and New Zealand, I had the great pleasure of tasting two of their Rieslings. Clare Valley and Eden Valley are probably the best known regions for Riesling in Australia. The solar radiation, due to latitude and the whole in the ozone layer, imparts some specific aromas to Rieslings from this area. In particular, both of these Rieslings had pronounced aromas of lime. Lime is said to be probably the most distinctive aroma in Riesling that sets Clare Valley and Eden Valley apart from other Riesling regions, like Germany. Other aromas – lemon, grapefruit, grapefruit zest, wet stone or kerosene aromas, are typical for Riesling everywhere, but in Australia, lime is the aroma that stands out.

  • Clare Valley Riesling – Cellar Reserve (2021)

Stainless steel fermented, crackling with pronounced aromas of lime, lemon, lime zest, grapefruit, grapefruit zest and wet stone. Bone dry, razor-sharp acidity, medium+ finish. Textbook Clare Valley Riesling. TBM 91 points.

Penfolds Rieslings - Clare and Eden Valley, Bin 51 and Cellar Reserve

Penfolds Rieslings – Clare and Eden Valley: Eden Valley

  • Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling

A Riesling with typical lime, lemon and citrus aromas, with a slightly gentler touch—tangerine and citrus blossom dominate. Medium (+) acidity. A beautifully aromatic and refreshing take on Riesling. TBM 91 points.