Penfolds has been the reference point for Australian wine since the 1840s, and Max's is the house's tribute to Max Schubert, the chief winemaker who created Grange. This is Chardonnay from South Australia, picked across the warm inland and the cooler edges of the state, and made in a style that leans on fruit first and oak second.
- Chardonnay, 100% of the blend.
- South Australia, a state-wide appellation.
- 2021, a strong year for white varieties.
- 13% ABV, medium body, dry.
- Fermented and matured with French oak influence.
How it is made
South Australia is not one vineyard but many, spread from the Barossa down through the Adelaide Hills and across to Coonawarra. Penfolds has always worked this way, blending across sites to build consistency rather than chasing a single plot. The Chardonnay is fermented cool to keep the aromatics intact, then matured in French oak, a portion of it new, which rounds the texture without burying the fruit.
How it tastes
White peach and melon lead, with citrus cutting through the middle and a cashew note from the oak sitting underneath. The texture is creamy, the acidity medium, and the finish dry and clean. There is a softness to it that comes from the variety itself, not from residual sugar.
Where it comes from
South Australia accounts for a large share of the country's wine, and the state's range of climates is what makes a blend like this possible. Warmer inland sites give weight and stone fruit; cooler elevated sites hold the acid and the citrus line. Penfolds draws from both.
Good to know
Chardonnay is the most planted white grape in Australia, and the country's modern reputation for it was built on exactly this kind of oak-influenced, fuller-bodied style. The grape itself is neutral, which is why site and winemaking show through so clearly.
