Aged on its lees in French oak barrels (30% new), Penfolds Max's Chardonnay 2019 is a sophisticated white wine that combines enticing aromas of ripe stone fruit, fresh acidity, and delicate toasted nuances. This Australian wine offers a creamy texture, elegant minerality, and a prolonged finish. It embodies the legacy of excellence of Penfolds.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
General Information
Penfolds Max’s Chardonnay 2019 originates from the high-altitude vineyards of Adelaide Hills (South Australia). With a cool climate, limestone soils, and significant elevation, these conditions enable a slow ripening of the chardonnay, preserving its natural acidity and varietal expressiveness. The hand-harvest ensures the selection of the freshest and most concentrated clusters. This environment brings notes of white fruit, minerality, and refined structure to the glass.
After hand-harvesting, the chardonnay ferments spontaneously with native yeasts in stainless steel. It then matures on its lees for approximately 10 months in French oak barrels -30% new-, without forced malolactic fermentation, resulting in a creamy and complex texture while maintaining a freshness rarely found in this style.
Penfolds (1844) is one of the global benchmarks of Australian wine. The Max’s tribute celebrates Max Schubert, chief winemaker from 1948 to 1975, whose legacy includes the iconic “Grange.” Today, under the direction of Peter Gago, the winery combines innovation and tradition, highlighting the identity of terroirs like Adelaide Hills with modern and vibrant wines.
Penfolds Max’s Chardonnay 2019 pairs beautifully with baked fish or butter-based sauces, seafood (ceviche, white fish), creamy dishes, risottos, or soft cheeses like brie and goat cheese. It also complements poultry and aromatic preparations.
Creators' opinion
This chardonnay displays a pale yellow color with soft highlights. On the nose, it reveals stone fruit (peach, nectarine), white flowers, toasted notes, dried fruits, and mineral touches reminiscent of "wet stone." On the palate, it is unctuous and enveloping, with lively acidity, a creamy texture, and a prolonged finish marked by subtle mineral and vanilla nuances.
The winery
Winery
Penfolds is considered one of the best wineries in Australia and a global benchmark. The origin of the winery dates back to 1844, when a young English doctor, Christopher Rawson Penfold, and his wife Maria emigrated to Australia and acquired a 500-hectare estate, where they began making wine with garnacha. Wines that were initially prescribed to his anemic patients. By 1870, the winery had more than 60 hectares of vineyards, which were used to produce sweet and dry reds as well as whites that were already being marketed.
By the late 19th century, Penfolds was producing one-third of the wine in South Australia, and over time expanded its vineyards through successive acquisitions.
In the mid-20th century, its winemaker Max Schubert applied what he had learned during a trip to Bordeaux, designing a wine with longevity, concentration, and balance never before seen in Australia. Penfolds would become the reference for Australian wine.
In 1995, when Robert Parker praised the winery's wines, Penfolds gained worldwide fame, proving that Australia is capable of producing wines on par with the best in the world. Among the achievements of this winery, it has earned 100 Parker points on several occasions with its red Penfolds Grange.