Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay

Hints of apple and white-stone fruit give way to a zesty, orange-peel finish.

Penfolds Max’s Chardonnay is a tribute to former Chief Winemaker Max Schubert 1948-1975, a legend in Penfolds history. Max’s constant pursuit of excellence paved the way for those who followed in his footsteps and also allowed the status and heritage of Penfolds to grow. Max’s Chardonnay continues the evolution of the Penfolds white wine program, drawing inspiration from the legacy and spirit of the many wine trials of Max Schubert, a Penfolds winemaking legend.

A terroir driven wine, the Cellar Master Series Chardonnay has a medium-plus intensity, owning its youthful and aromatic bouquet of spring blossoms, crunchy yellow apples, dried pineapple, cinnamon, ripe grapefruit, and mandarin zest. A sweeter undertone of almond skin, bay leaf and chamomile ground the fruit, adding a sophisticated, savoury sheen. A sherbet-like intensity follows through on the taste, and this vibrant acidity steers the fruit to the back of your mouth, evoking a salivating mineral quality. Then, with a savoury sheen anchoring itself on the mid-palate, the wine engulfs your palate, weaving a magical balance of sweet, sour, and salty nuances into a mouth-filling experience. As with the aromas, bright citrus takes the lead with whiffs of lemon meringue pie, almonds, and grapefruit pith, balancing creamy and nippy textures built into the wine, finished off with an old-world flintiness.

Fresh lemon peel and grapefruit skin dominate the nose and palate, and is beautifully rounded off with soft buttery notes in the background.