Penfolds Bin 51 Riesling 2019

Penfolds Bin 51 Riesling, Eden Valley, South Australia, 2019 

Grape: Riesling, aged 3 months in stainless steel

Producer Tasting Note:

Light straw colour. When opened and swirled mandarin, lemon cordial and orange blossom aromatics are immediately unleashed. Acquiesces in the citrus spectrum - more so than manifesting Eden Valley’s archetypal floral aromas... a warmer-than-average growing season has left its imprint. Upon closer inspection, hints of lavender talc, lychee and the faintest waft of cardamom spice. No doubting variety, style and region! A slightly fuller Riesling akin to the Bin 51’s of the early 2000’s, no doubt due to the drier and warmer 2019 Eden Valley harvest. Tempting flavours of lemon tea cake, apple strudel with jasmine florals and Tahitian lime leaf round out a palate nevertheless still enlivened by chalky acidity. ‘Softened’ and very approachable now. Recommend more immediate drinking, with medium-term Eden Valley Riesling cellarability. Partake.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Incredibly citrusy on the nose, the 2019 Bin 51 Riesling boasts an exciting mélange of tangerine, lemon, lime and grapefruit. Bottled just a week prior to tasting, it seemed to be suffering no ill effects, showing terrific balance and a lithe, medium-bodied feel on the palate, followed by a crisp, racy finish. One of the best Bin 51s I've ever tasted, it's approachable now but with at least a decade's worth of longevity."

93/100 points, Joe Czerwinski, WINE ADVOCATE, August 2019

"Pale colour. Classic pure lime camomile aromas with herb garden notes. Well concentrated supple wine with lovely deep set generous pure lime, passionfuit, camomile flavours, extra-fine bitter chalky textures, mid-palate volume and long fresh indelible mouth-watering acidity. Finishes minerally with superb fruit persistency. Buoyant and delicious to drink with lovely richness and zip. Really can't get much better than this. Will develop and unfold for years."

97/100 points, Andrew Caillard MW

Created in the 1990s as part of the evolving Penfolds white wine development program, Bin 51 captures many of the attributes of the Eden Valley locale. The region’s high altitude and cool climate induces riesling with great finesse and elegance with a capacity for long-term cellaring. South Australia has gained worldwide recognition for producing definitive world-class riesling and Eden Valley always features. In their youth, the wines possess scented floral and citrus aromas, with a mineral edge and marked natural acidity,contributing significantly to the palate texture and flavour. The evolution of Penfolds Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling opens another chapter in a long history of Penfolds involvement in winemaking from this variety