Drinking well now, but will improve with time. Peak drinking 2021 - 2035.

Colour
Pale straw with a bright lemon rim

Nose
Not the archetypical stone-fruited Bin A this vintage – to the fore:
lemon curd, mandarin and nashi pear with a skerrick of shortbread and creamy custard/vanilla slice sans icing.
Also noteworthy – a touch of spice (cardamom and caraway) and a subtle suggestion of ground almond. This tasting’s final impression signing off on a quartz-like minerality, and wet river-stone flintiness. Very much looking forward to evolution in the bottle...

Palate
Initially, an intriguing subtle (fluffy/pillowy) gentleness!
Flavours of mandarin and yoghurt with a rich mid-palate.
A glycerolic viscosity interlocks with the natural acidity inducing a mouth-watering juiciness and just a rasp of flint at the very end, adding length and zest.
So youthful. All evident on the palate would indicate that this wine needs time!
Short-term – catalyse/accelerate via a decant. Or wait. Adelaide Hills attired alternatively.

96 Points - Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com

95 Points - Andrew Caillard MW

95 Points - Campbell Mattinson

94 Points - Angus Hughson

92 Points - Huon Hooke

92 Points - Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

“Why release Reserve Bin A one year before Yattarna? To reply in the nicest possible way –Because we can.”

“Seatbelt-up for the complete journey in bottle, start to finish. And what a ride!”

 - Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker

Origin: Adelaide Hills, South Australia. 

Maturation: Eight months in French oak (40% new, 35% 1-y.o., 25% seasoned) 

Wine Analysis: Alc/Vol: 13%, Acidity: 7.1 g/L, pH: 3.06 

Variety: Chardonnay.

The Adelaide Hills enjoyed above average rainfall from winter until early summer.

From January, the rainfall steadily decreased with only half the average falling between New Year and vintage. 
There was only one significant frost event on November 7th, but this was largely controlled by sprinkler mitigation systems across the region. A hail storm on October 29th caused some damage to canopies, however this weather event did not have a significant impact on the crop. Summer was warm, especially through January and February with 12 summer days above 35 degrees. The altitude of the region protected the grapes from extremes that were experienced elsewhere. A dry and orderly vintage provided excellent parcels of chardonnay harvested across the region.

Reserve Bin A Chardonnay has established a strong following since it was first released in 1994.  The impressive successes at wine shows, both in Australia and the UK, has contributed to the significant worldwide attention to this hallmark Penfolds style. 

The early vintages included some Tumbarumba fruit and since 2003 it has been released entirely under screwcap.  

Reserve Bin A was not made in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2011.