Tasting Notes :

Penfolds Reserve Bin 16A Chardonnay, 2016.

Penfolds Reserve Bin A Chardonnay has evolved into a wine that is now a distinctive,

single-region style in its own right, with a contemporary and

distinctive Adelaide Hills Chardonnay persona.

 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.

 Enhanced mouthfeel and complexity is achieved by fermenting on solids,

100% malolactic fermentation (all natural).

Nose :

 More citrusy than normal with lemon meringue and preserved lemon notes.

And yet still harbouring typical Adelaide Hills white nectarine aromas alongside yeast lees/oak-

derived complexing characters, almond nougat.

 A trace of powdered/finely ground white pepper adds an interesting and intriguing element.

 Background minerals / struck rock / ferric flintiness (not quite wetted iron filings!)

spiral upwards, building complexity.

Palate :

 Lemon and citrus conceded, however, a more pronounced grapefruit pith

character assumes control of palate - obliging a round, mouth-coating,

softened phenolic texture. Structurally,

a mineral acidity coupled with papery tannins/phenolics,

induce an impressive length of flavour.

 An expressive Bin A displaying more purity and more drive,

albeit with greater focus, tightness.