Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay 2020
- 91
- $50
- Drink by: 2021 - 2027
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Sourced from Tasmania, Piccadilly and Henty, this wine spent 8 months in French oak barriques, 41% new. 2020 has certainly been castigated by critics as a lesser vintage and, while it is hard to argue against that, there are enough regions to produce some top-notch fruit somewhere. Blending regions can help to overcome any perceived vintage deficiencies.
Some depth of gold/yellow in the colour. The aromas include gentle nutty notes, a hint of oak, and of struck match. Nicely balanced and moves towards appealing stonefruit characters – peaches. Tropical notes also emerge on the finish – mango and banana. A fresh style with some very early complexity and a pleasing flick of acidity. Decent length. Exceeds expectations, given the vintage.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
