Penfolds V: Penfolds has a long history of white winemaking dating back to the 1800s when Mary Penfold, wife of Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold, won awards for her achievements with white varietals. Records show that in 1890, Penfolds won an award at the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Show in Adelaide for a “White Wine of Light Character” – the engraving on the trophy read “Mary Penfold & Co.” Today, Senior White Winemaker, Kym Schroeter, continues this award-winning legacy, under the stewardship of Penfolds Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago.
Experimentation and trial have long been the beating heart of Penfolds, with winemakers always looking to what’s next, whilst respecting the work done by custodians of the past. It is with this vision and curiosity that Penfolds continues to grow its white wine portfolio, most recently with the launch of a new multi-vintage Chardonnay – Penfolds V.
Penfolds V
Penfolds V – a special blend of five Yattarna vintages
A white winemaking ‘what if’ that turned into why not…Penfolds V spans five of the best Yattarna vintages: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2021 (the 2021 vintage is a future release), sensitively selected and blended by Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter Gago and White Winemaker Kym Schroeter “It’s different. It’s both intriguing and confronting. An evocative wine that epitomises the finesse, restraint and character of modern Australian Chardonnay”, comments Peter Gago. “Yattarna —little by little, gradually… Bin 144 dressed differently.”
Launched in the sumptuous surrounds of the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris in February, we see Penfolds white winemaking endeavours personified in this new complex and expressive multi-regional blend. After tasting Penfolds V for the first time, Erin Larkin of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate wrote, “This is a monumental wine. A 360-degree view of Chardonnay. Truly kaleidoscopic.” (99 points).
With only 2200 bottles available globally and high praise from respected critics, this limited edition release is set to be in high demand from collectors as it becomes available throughout the world this year.
About Penfolds
Since 1844, Penfolds has played a pivotal role in the evolution of winemaking with a history and heritage that profoundly reflects Australia’s journey to the modern era. Penfolds collection of benchmark wines were established in a spirit of innovation and the constant and endless pursuit of quality, evidenced by the secret bottling of Grange in 1951 and the unbroken line of vintages of what is now arguably Australia’s most iconic red wine. It’s this spirit of innovation that drives our curiosity and determination to always push beyond boundaries, unrestricted by region or vineyard. Setting our sights first on Napa Valley in California and Bordeaux in France, the Penfolds range of today encapsulates a bold alliance between the northern and southern hemispheres. A continuum of endeavour unbound by country, vine or time. Today, the Penfolds Collection continues to display the brand’s distinctive and consistently recognisable ‘House Style’; the ultimate expression of Penfolds time-honoured tradition of sourcing the best fruit from some of the most highly regarded winemaking regions in the world, including Napa and Bordeaux alongside the most-acclaimed regions within South Australia. Historic blends, significant milestones and heritage vineyards have been honoured by a lineage of custodians whose courage and imagination, precision and humility have ensured Penfolds remains true to its original values while remaining relevant for current and future generations. The stories and philosophies behind each label bring a timeless quality, making Penfolds wines special and compelling for collectors and drinkers the world over.