2020 Penfolds Bin 311 Tumbarumba Chardonnay

Penfolds is Australia's oldest and most iconic winery with a history and legacy that reflects the country's journey from colonial settlement to the modern era. The winery was founded in 1844 by Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold who emigrated with his wife from England to South Australia to plant his vines obtained from France on the Magill Estate. The reason for this was not to make Australia's best wine, but to find a cure for anaemia. Christopher believed in the medicinal properties of wine and used it in his family practice that grew in reputation.

The Australian wine industry, including Penfolds, changed dramatically with the arrival of winemaker Max Schubert who created world famous Grange and Bin wines. In 1988 Max Schubert was named 'Man of the year' by Decanter Magazine and Penfolds Grange 1955 is now listed as a national heritage site. Penfolds has an extraordinary collection of awards and with each generation of winemakers, Max Schubert's remarkable vision is nurtured and enhanced. Today, Peter Gago is the 'Guardian of the Grange' and sets the standard for all Penfolds wines. It was even named 'Most Admired Wine Brand' by Drinks International in early 2019 and in all likelihood many more awards will follow.

The Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay has many similarities with the Burgundian wines because the grapes for this Bin 311 grow up in a cool climate. For many winemakers this would be too cold for growing grapes, but due to the fresh climate, the grapes for the Chardonnay get a nice fresh property with good acids for a Chardonnay grape that are often lacking in areas that are too warm, making a wine dusty. Due to the wood aging that this wine undergoes, there is a correct balance between acidity and fullness. The Chardonnay Bin 311 has a lot of complexity in the nose and mouth. a wonderful balance between the acidity and the fruit makes this wine medium-bodied, with a hint of creaminess in the middle of the palate and a long, silky finish.

Tasmania typically experienced abundant rainfall in winter, but spring started quite dry with September well within the day long-term average. In general, warm spring temperatures were recorded with no significant frost events. Summer was very hot and very dry, conditions that prevailed until harvest. Rainfall in the Adelaide Hills growing season was average, but good drops in June and August ensured optimum soil moisture levels for budburst. The weather was cold, wet and windy during flowering and unlike some warmer regions, the Adelaide Hills vines were well placed to handle the summer heat peaks with few problems. Tumbarumba had significant heavy rainfall in November. Conditions were generally hot in the summer, with two heat waves in January mitigated by cooler spells in between. The growing season is well concluded, with mild conditions leading to very good vintage. Chardonnay showed strong varietal character and maintained good natural acidity in all three regions.