James Suckling 95
This moves into refined and very striking style with a wealth of lemons, white peaches and nectarines on offer, as well as nicely curated hazelnut-oak. The smoothly honed palate has deep-set peach flavors and a succulent, cool-mineral and grapefruit finish. The finest Bin 311 to date.

Jeb Dunnuck 92
Bottled under screwcap, the 2018 Chardonnay Bin 311 comes all from cool climate sites in southeastern Australia and was brought up in French oak. Its light gold hue is followed by a racy perfume of stone fruits, crushed citrus, white flowers, and salty minerality. With plenty of richness, medium body, and nicely integrated acidity, this rock-solid Chardonnay is drinking great today yet has the class and balance to evolve for 4-6 years or more. Its an impressive Chardonnay.

Wine Advocate 92
The 2018 Bin 311 Chardonnay is a multiregional blend sourced from Adelaide Hills (43), Tumbarumba and Tasmaniait was previously a single-region bottling. Essentially, it's now a blend of barrels that didn't make it into the Reserve Bin label from the Adelaide Hills and barrels from Tumbarumba and Tassie that didn't make the Yattarna grade. Fermented and aged in 30 new French oak (20 second use and 50 older), it reveals hints of vanilla buttercream on the nose, paired with notes of pineapple, orange, pear and melon. It's medium-bodied, plump and creamy across the palate, then crisp and focused on the finish.

Wine Enthusiast 92
This now-multiregional Chardonnay blend from wine giant Penfolds is a pretty, fruity number with both the polish associated with this brand and upfront appeal. Waxed apple, peach and lime aromas kick things off. There's a fringe of salt, like the rim of a margarita glass. Laser-like acidity slices through the highly textural palate, leading once again to a long, salty finish

Wilfred Wong 92
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay is beautifully layered and finishes nicely. TASTING NOTES: This wine is redolent of ripe fruit, light minerality, and a hint of oak in its aromas and flavors. Try it with pan-fried chicken thighs and wild mushrooms over egg noodles. (Tasted: August 29, 2020, San Francisco, CA)

Wine Spectator 91
Bright, fresh ruby grapefruit and pear flavors leap out of the glass, with a hint of mandarin orange and a succulent frame. White floral details linger on the finish.

Decanter 91
The white Grange Yattarna and Reserve Bin A from the Adelaide Hills are the pinnacle of Penfolds Chardonnays, but this cross-regional blend from Tasmania, South Australias Adelaide Hills and Tumbarumba in New South Wales offers a hint of those lofty heights in a more affordable package. Its expressive and detailed, with a savoury kick of wild yeast, flinty notes, baking apples and sweet spice, and a crisp bite of acidity. Drinking Window 2020 - 2024

Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay is a light straw color. The nose is full-flavored, endowed with a concentrated fruit spectrum of citrus, grapefruit and white peach. Hints of sherbet, camomile and goats cheese complex the aromatic offer a chardonnay cast assembled from three States of Australia. Certainly, theres quite the performance happening in the glass, with barely a swirl of the glass and some air required to light up the stage! First and foremost, this wine extolls freshness, yet not at the expense of an endearing richness and generosity of flavour. Whilst some may perceive it to be slightly larger-framed than in previous years it nevertheless retains trademark Bin 311 mineral acidity and linearity. Rockmelon and white peach fruits are pronounced. Underlying sherbet and fresh lemon tart impressions coupled with a lovely creaminess add to the structural and flavour pool. A trademark Penfolds phenolic grip certainly doesnt curtail length or volume.