Ranked #34 of 694 2018 Chardonnay from Australia
96/100
5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Bright, light-yellow hue, youthfully undeveloped for its age, and the bouquet and palate follow the same theme. It's reserved and refined, youthful and fresh, the flavour already complex in its subtle way, combining nutty, toasty, various citrus fruits - especially lemon - and a hint of spice. Cashew nuts, creamy lees, the whole wine very tightly-composed and delicate yet tremendously long and bursting with potential.
Tasted: 08/07/2020
Drink: 2021 to 2038
99 Points James Halliday
72% Tasmania (predominantly Central Highlands and Coal River Valley, with a little Derwent Valley), 22% Tumbarumba (for minerality and linearity), 6% Adelaide Hills (for richness); matured eight months in 60% new French oak barriques. An ultra-cool climate blend of Tasmania, Tumbarumba and Adelaide Hills fruit wastes no time in setting the terms of engagement with a wine of infinite class. The flinty/smoky aromas introducing an almost painful intensity on the mercurial palate, a celebration of white-fleshed stone fruits. It has made light work of 8 months in 100% new French oak. Struts its stuff without a care in the world. Drink to 2033.
Source: James Halliday.
98 Points Tyson Stelzer
In these days of championing single region, exclusive vineyard and artisan maker, blends are too often derided, yet it remains that in the most dextrous of hands, a far-flung composition is capable of producing the finest result. Long overshadowed by the fanfare of the lauded red wine suite, Kym Schroeter has been integral to the Penfolds team for 34 years and has spent the second half of his time establishing himself as one of Australia’s geniuses of chardonnay. Yattarna 2018 is an exemplar of his craft and nothing short of his finest wine yet. Never have I tasted an Australian chardonnay that so intimately unites three very diverse regions, that envelops oak so seamlessly into its folds (and 60% new, no less), and that holds every nuance of lifted fragrance, pristine white fruits and tense, crystalline yet somehow calm Tasmanian acidity in suspended animation on a finish of astonishing line and length. In precision and poise, this is utterly breathtaking chardonnay. Yattarna 2018 not only surpasses the profound 2012 as the greatest white wine I have ever tasted from Penfolds, it’s one of the very finest ever conceived in this country. Drink 2023 - 2033.
Source: Tyson Stelzer.