2013 Penfolds, Yattarna, Bin 144 Chardonnay, Australia
Critics reviews
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 30/09/2015
About this WINE
Penfolds
Penfolds enjoys an iconic status that few New World producers have achieved. Established in 1844 at the Magill Estate near Adelaide, it laid the foundation for fine wine production in Australia.
The winemaking team is led by the masterful Peter Gago; it has the herculean task of blending the best wines from a multitude of different plots, vineyards and regions to create a consistent and outstanding range of wines. Its flagship wine, Grange, is firmly established as one of the finest red wines in the world.
Under Gago’s stewardship, the Penfolds range has evolved over time. Winemaking has moved away from New World heat and the sort of larger-than-life style that can mask individuality; the contemporary wines instead favour fine balance and typicity for the region or grape.
Best of BBX: Australia
Australia is a large country, three quarters the size of Europe. The various micro-climates and innovative winemaking enable a diverse range of wines to be produced. Here is a selection of some of the best wines that Australia has to offer on BBX.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
Over 50% of the fruit in this 2013 Chardonnay Yattarna comes from Tasmania, Australias relatively recent hotbed of cool climate fruit. Aged in 62% new oak and employing 100% malo-lactic, the nose is closed, revealing subtle chalk dust and steel notes over a core of toast and grapefruit peel plus a touch of lemon zest. Tightly-knit and austere, the light-bodied palate is remarkably creamy and it finishes long and minerally.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 30/09/2015
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee