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Yattarna Chardonnay 2018

Penfolds , South Australia, Australia

Penfolds
South Australia Australia
  • 97
    Points
  • The 788 best
    of 3 290 954
    wines globally
  • 9 Pros of
    9 recommend
    this wine
117 97
  • Taste
  • Moment
  • BEST White wine of the world
    BWW2021 -Best wine of the world competition

  • Country ranking ?

    54

  • Producer ranking ?

    33

  • Decanting time

    2h

  • When to drink

    now to 2040

Food Pairing

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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PENFOLDS LAUNCHES ‘2020 COLLECTION’

Led by 2016 Penfolds Grange and a superlative g4, Penfolds, the flagship wine brand under Treasury Wine Estates, has officially unveiled the new 2020 collection in Hong Kong. 

Described as “sophisticated and sculptured”, the 2016 Grange “may politely nudge the classic 2004 and 2010. It would be brazen to rank any further back into the last millennium”, comments Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker.

...

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The Story

Since 1844, Penfolds has played a pivotal role in the evolution of winemaking with a history and heritage that profoundly reflects Australia’s journey from colonial settlement to the modern era. The stories and philosophies behind each label bring a timeless quality, making Penfolds wines special and compelling for collectors and drinkers the world over.

Launched in 1998 with the 1995 vintage, Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay was the result of ...

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Wine Information

“Arguably ... on par with the exceptional 2012 and 2017 vintages of Yattarna –this release certainly has the potential to befit a classic designation!.”

- Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker

Color
Very pale straw with lime green hues

Nose
A pedigreed stylistic first alert – subtle flint, more rock-flint than struck-match.
A mist of limey citrus, curry leaf and hints of white peach. Quite an exotic ascent... no need to coax from gl...

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Vintage 2018

All three regions enjoyed a relatively wet winter and spring, setting the vines up with healthy soil moisture profiles for the ensuing growing season. Tasmania experienced clear and generally warm conditions from January onwards, with no extreme heat spells leading into harvest. The temperature only breached 35°C once in January, resulting in optimal conditions for ripening. 

 

Tumbarumba had plentiful rainfall right up to December, when...

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Tasting note

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Written Notes

There was a time when the Reserve Bin A contended with Yattarna for accolades as Penfold's top white of the vintage (a little bit apples v oranges as the Yattarna always has an extra year when released), but for several vintages, Yattarna has been unchallenged. And so it is this release, hardly surprising as the 2018 will challenge for the title of all time best Yattarna. What a wine!

A blend of Tasmania, Tumbarumba and the Adelaide Hills fruit. Eight months in French oak barriques, 60% new.

This is a complex, balanced, complete Chardonnay. Ideal oak integration, almost invisible. Spices, peaches, nectarine and if you look hard enough, a hint of grilled cashews. Coiled power, fine acidity and great length. Elegance personified. This is a brilliant Yattarna. 97.

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  • 97p

Penfolds Yattarna 2018 / Launched in 1998 with the 1995 vintage, Yattarna is the result of one of the most comprehensive, focused and highly publicised wine development projects ever conducted in Australia. The aspiration and independence of mind across generations of Penfolds winemakers inspired the ambition to create a white wine that would set the standard for ultra-fine Australian Chardonnay, a sortof 'White Grange'. They aim to source and select only the very best Chardonnay fruit from cool-climate regions, in this case Tasmania, Tumbarumba, Adelaide Hills. The name Yattarna is drawn from local indigenous language, meaning ‘little by little, gradually’. Acidity 7.3 g/l, pH 3.12. Aged for eight months in French oak barriques (60% new). All three regions enjoyed a relatively wet winter and spring, setting the vines up with healthy soil moisture profiles for the ensuing growing season. Tasmania experienced clear and generally warm conditions from January onwards, with no extreme heat spells leading into harvest. The temperature breached 35 °C only once in January, resulting in optimal conditions for ripening. Tumbarumba had plentiful rainfall right up to December, when a dry spell set in. In February, temperatures were generally cool allowing for slow, consistent ripening. The Adelaide Hills fruit set was slightly above average. The region experienced a warm finish to the growing season, but well-developed canopies shielded the fruit from adversity and ensured the berries ripened evenly. Harvest was an orderly affair across the three regions. 


Fine, complex, really rather burgundian nose and great crystalline fruit and grip without austerity. The acidity level is really quite high compared with many other Chardonnays. Pretty smart. You would be very happy with this if labelled Puligny-Montrachet actually. Good stuff and it should have a long life but could be broached already.

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  • 93p

Light, green yellow colour. Rich and toasty nose with charmingly fresh tropical fruity aromas, vivid mintiness and some buttery popcorn notes. Dry and vibrant mouthfeel has very sophisticated new oak flavour that combines well with fresh fruitiness. Very long and lingering aftertaste charms with elegance and harmony. Very appealing wine that drinks well today but will evolve beautifully for next decades. Decant for 2 hours prior enjoying and serve at 10-12°C with Lobster Thermidor or grilled skate. JL 96p (12/2020)

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  • 96p

Pale gold. Elegant style wine with high pitched nectarine, melon aromas with flinty complexity. Intense pure lime grapefruit nectarine flavours, fine looseknit al-dente/ chalky textures, lovely mid-palate richness, underlying savoury oak complexity and fresh persistent crunchy acidity. Expressive and pure fruited with superb vinosity and mineral length. Needs time to uncoil and further develop. Seal; screwcap 2022 – 2032 13% alc 96 points
 
An austere yet voluminous Chardonnay where less is more. A highly individual and expressive wine that needs a few years to develop more complexity and richness. Judging by the recent Penfolds Rewards of Patience tastings, the wine promises a lot more with further bottle age.
 
Tasmania, Tumbarumba, Adelaide Hills
 
Eight months in 60% new and 40% seasoned French oak barriques

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  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Magill, South Australia

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