2014 Reserve Bin 00A Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Can only come from Adelaide Hills. All fruit is hand-picked into small bins and then whole-bunch pressed. The juice is incrementally filled to barrel directly from the press and allowed to undergo a natural fermentation, sans inoculation. Every new and seasoned French oak barrique is its own unique 225-litre ferment. 100% (natural) malolactic fermentation. Nine months in French oak barriques, 82% new and 18% one year old. They stir much less than they used to. Lightly filtered. TA 6.6 g/l, pH 3.16. More obviously leesy on the nose than the Bin 311. Edgy, crystalline structure – more stereotypical than the 311. Edgy and with a hint of lime but no lime syrup. Very clean and fresh finish. Vibrant finish. Greenish edge. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Having spent nine months in French oak barriques (82% new), the naturally fermented 2014 Reserve Bin 14A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay opens with a pronounced tropical fruit and apricot-laced nose with plenty of meal and cashew hints plus pleasant whiffs of struck match and cedar. The palate reveals wonderful intensity and a satiny texture packed into an elegant light body with layered stone fruit and nut characters and a good long finish.
About the producer
Penfolds is Australia’s most famous wine producer, known best for their iconic top wine, Grange. First produced commercially in 1952, Grange has since gone on to become one of the world’s most famous fine wines. In 2001, the wine was listed as an Australian heritage icon.