January 16, 2024 - Faint hint of squash court on the nose. Nothing much else. Solid all-together wine. Wouldn’t be disappointed to find in an airport business class lounge.
Certainly isn’t a Yattarna 2008 or close to a Giaconda. But, nicely rounded, and I think a surprisingly long, full finish (although that could be the chilli tortilla tingle). Some good sappy fruit mid palate. Maybe I’ve been mean on 91-92 points. Be interesting to try again to see if the non-descript meh disappears. First of six.
December 28, 2023 - Pale lemon
nose: pronounced, with red apple, stone fruit, cream
palate: red apple, peach, cream and butter
dry, medium acid, medium alcohol, medium+ body
flavour intensity: medium
finish: long
B: 1
L: 1
I: .5
C: .5
The wine will improve with age and develop further tertiary flavours. It is a very good wine.
July 1, 2023 - 2023 Birthday lunch (Aquitaine Brasserie): My favourite tasted alongside Bin 311 and Yattarna. A slightly bigger wine than Yattarna with more new oak and spice. Citrus, stonefruit, vanilla, lots to love here. Still many years to go.
July 24, 2021 - Had with the wrong food, so it didn't work so well
April 9, 2021 - Friday evening at Bishan. Drank in Gabriel Standart. Screw-cap.
Apearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour. Thin legs.
Nose pronounced intensity, with a blast of reductive struck match flintiness, toasty oak barrel almost like some roasted peanuts, saline minerality, underlying nectarine and citrus fruits. Nose and the reductiveness does calm down significantly with more air. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium- alcohol (12.5%), medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of nutty toasty oak, green lime, citrus lemon, ripe peach nectarine, flinty minerality. Long finish.
Very good quality. Can see why other tasters have been impressed. That reductive nose. Gives white Burgs a run for their money.
From fruit sourced in the Adelaide Hills.
August 16, 2020 - A super Chardonnay from Penfolds.
Citrus,herbs and nectarine lovely indeed
February 18, 2020 - Wow, I am not kidding if I say this wine reminds me of a Coche-Dury or Comte Lafon. Racy nose leading with prominent gun flint, then citrus, herbs and stone fruit. Light on the palate, fades a bit in the mid palate but aromatically very convincing. Crisp, fresh, would never guess Australia here if served blind. Not an Aussie wine fan but hats off to team Penfolds for this one.
February 9, 2020 - Citrus and stone fruits. Butter and cream. Stunning
February 15, 2019 - Wonderful array of soft fruit, yellow apple, yellow plum, ripe peach and soft apricots, mixed white nuts, well integrated oak with notes of sweet spices and nutmeg. Finish was fresh and with good acidity and a long long finish. Sourced form Adelaide Hills, 8 months french oak (40% new)
November 19, 2018 - Rich and complex with plenty of struck match. Good detail and a long citrusy finish. Outstanding build and texture.