2025 Penfolds Reserve Bin 25A Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

The Penfolds Reserve Bin A Chardonnay has been in fine form in recent years, and the new release continues that theme. Pale straw with a slight green tinge to the edge and aromas of white peach, nectarine and citrus fruits on a base of grilled cashew, soft spice, vanillin oak, clover blossom, lemon zest, crushed minerals, almond butter and a wisp of flint and almond paste. Layered, complex and textural. The flavours draw out impressively on the palate, with a taut, lacy seam of acidity providing ample clarity and velocity as it travels. It's another strong release for this wine.

96 points Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion Jun 2026

Reserve Bin A is one of the great names in Australian Chardonnay, a wine that has helped define the modern style of the Adelaide Hills for more than three decades. First released in 1994, it marked Penfolds' commitment to cool climate Chardonnay and has since become one of the country's most admired and collectible white wines. Sourced exclusively from the finest vineyards across the Adelaide Hills, Reserve Bin A is produced only when the fruit reaches the exacting standards demanded by the Penfolds winemaking team, delivering a Chardonnay of exceptional finesse, complexity and longevity.

The 2025 vintage provided outstanding conditions, with a long, cool growing season allowing the fruit to ripen slowly while retaining remarkable freshness and natural acidity. Whole bunch pressing, fermentation in French oak barriques and extended maturation on lees have built impressive texture and depth without compromising purity. Every component has been carefully considered to create a wine that balances power with elegance, remaining unmistakably Adelaide Hills in its vibrant citrus profile and mineral precision.

Brilliant pale gold with green flashes, the bouquet is immediately captivating, revealing white nectarine, Meyer lemon and grapefruit layered with jasmine, crushed oyster shell and delicate struck flint. As the wine opens, notes of roasted almond, brioche, nougat and a whisper of smoky spice emerge, adding further complexity. The palate is beautifully sculpted, combining pristine citrus and stone fruit with a creamy, finely textured core and vibrant acidity that carries the wine effortlessly across the palate. A lingering mineral thread and beautifully integrated French oak frame an exceptionally long, precise finish that speaks of pedigree and impeccable balance.

A magnificent partner to lobster with beurre blanc, seared scallops, John Dory, roast chicken with tarragon or a mature Comté. Superb on release, this is a Chardonnay built for the cellar and will continue to reward patient collectors for fifteen to twenty years, developing even greater depth, complexity and elegance with time.