2012 Penfolds Bin 144 Yattarna Chardonnay

Sourced from vineyards in the Derwent Valley and Coal Valley, Tasmania, Henty (Drumborg) and the Adelaide Hills. The wine was fermented in French oak barriques (45% new, 55% 1yo), and spent 8 months in those barriques in ultra-cool storage. The Tasmanian and Drumborg components really set the scene, being as they are the two coolest regions/subregions of Australia. The palate has striking intensity, length and focus, dispensing equal amounts of pink grapefruit, white peach and minerally acidity, oak a mere conveyance, not an end in itself.

97 points James Halliday Wine Companion

(Tasmania, Henty & Adelaide Hills) Light straw colour; the bouquet is tremendously youthful and tremendously complex - especially for such a young wine. The palate is tight and fine, very very intense and multi-layered, with nougat, spice and subtle marzipan nuances. Wonderful depth and focus on the palate: very refined and subtle but great piercing intensity and length, building as it progresses along the palate. A great young chardonnay with many years in front of it. (The Tasmanian portions are from both the Derwent and Coal Valleys) 23 SEP 2014