Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay 2009

This wine marks the release of the luxury wines from Penfolds in 2012. For me this wine has had the most refinement over the years. Yattarna was first developed in 1995 but it wasn't until the mid-2000s that it started to hit its glory.  The style of Yattarna is more elegant, sophisticated and a little more conservative than the Bin A but I guess that each wine would appeal to a different type of wine consumer.  The original name for Yattarna was Bin 144 which is the amount of trials that they undertook before settling on the style that Yattarna is searching to achieve. On a separate note the large majority of this wine comes from a vineyard in the Derwent Valley which has recently been sold to Shaw & Smith.  It will be interesting to see if Penfolds can still get access to that quality fruit.

Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay 2009

The wine is so tight with a core of acid running from the tip to the back of my tongue which suggests that it is built for consumption down the track yet there is still the comforting citrus notes that make me want to smash it now. In the mid-palate there is a hint of melon and orange rind wrestling with toasted nuts and wok fried galangal and all of these aspects are calling me into the glass. Complexity is not as issue here but this wine sits in the shadow of the Bin A, not for the flavours but it doesn't have the textural elements that is so enticing in the Bin A.  You will have to give this 5 years before it will show itself so if you are splashing out hold back on cracking the tops.

Alcohol: 12.9%
Price: $130
Rated: 93
Drink: 2017 - 2025

Seppelts Drumborg Chardonnay 2008

Chardonnay's birth place is in Clos de Vougoet where a group of monks found that some vines that were the love child of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc grew well so they planted a separate vineyard.  Gouis blanc is a rather rare variety found in Croatia and at Best's of Great Western. Go figure that you can find some of the oldest Gouais vines in the world in your back yard. Chardonnay is regarded as one of the all time great varieties of the world that adapts well to a variety of different climates.  This wine comes from the cool Henty region and as a result is very restrained.

Seppelts Drumborg Chardonnay 2008

You have to listen hard to the wine to hear what it has to say but when you do my god it talks your ear off.  If this wine was a car it would be a mini with the engine of an F1 car.  The length goes on and on and on but it is the textural experience mixed with beautiful crystalline flavours that gets me going. You need to be patient with this one as it will reward cellaring. That said the fruit and oak are perfectly integrated with the fruit taking centre stage so if pushed you could open it now.

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $48
Rated: 93+
Drink: 2014 - 2018

Seppelts Drumborg Riesling 2010

I remembering a little while ago that one of the critics didn't rate the Drumborg Riesling at all.  Not just this vintage but large proportion of the vintages so I thought I would have a look at it as other critics rave about it.  This Riesling comes from Henty which is on the cool side and some of the best wines form Penfolds and Seppelts come from this area.

Seppelts Drumborg Riesling 2010

You are hit with masses of intense lime juice and lemon blossom as soon as the wine enters your mouth.  Yet it is the even flow and cool measure of the wine that is the most satisfying.  The main flavour of the wine is slate which is like licking the old school fire places not that I do that that much.  There are moments of silence as I stand in awe of this wine. Specular length, great reserve yet flavour galore.

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $34
Rated: 94+
Drink: Not now.  Give it a decade in the bottle before thinking of opening it.