Penfolds Bin 19A Chardonnay 2019

Jeni Port – 95 Points.
An ebullient Adelaide Hills Chardonnay far from its usual reserved, cool personality. Highly expressive and generous, no doubt the result of a warm lead in to harvest. Burnt match, white peach, nectarine and citrus. The palate is vibrant with a real depth of fruit intensity: preserved lemon savouriness, cashew nuttiness and balance of oak and acidity. The high percentage of new French oak (80%) is slurped right up, the wine is definitely up to it. Love the fruit tingle juiciness to close. So alive.

Ken Gargett – 93 Points

James Atkinson –  95 Points
Pale gold. ‘Struck match’ leads the bouquet. There’s some lambic funk in there and appealing smoky notes. Stone fruit in the background. Much fuller on the palate and more generously fruited than the 311. The fruit hits and then comes the really pleasurable sugar lemon meringue and nutty characters. Extremely well integrated oak; the wine has really sucked up the 80% new component. Long, persistent finish. Nice acid definition. Ready now.

Melissa Moore – 94 Points
Pale gold in look with Adelaide Hills grapefruity citrus layered over reductive match and smoky bacon oak. Very savoury: toasted cashews over peach, acid clean and fresh, some tannin to finish. Smart package but needs time.

Angus Hughson – 94 Points
This is a wine of its vintage and has a foot in both the savoury and oaky Chardonnay camps – no doubt it will be a massive crowd-pleaser. The wine shows layers of highly complex oat bran, continental delicatessen, vanillin and spice complexity thanks to smart winemaking underpinned by powerful citrus and nectarine fruit. It is then full-bodied and creamy – a big and bold style on the palate and finishes with good length. An early drinking vintage of 19A. Drink now to 2028