Winemaker Notes
The 2019 vintage is a story of quality over quantity. Like the rest of South Australia’s growing regions, Eden Valley had a very dry winter and spring. These conditions continued through summer with hot and dry weather in January and February. The prevailing conditions resulted in one of the lowest yielding vintages on record. The resultant dry conditions meant there was no disease pressure. Riesling grapes exhibited terrific varietal character, with bracing natural acidity.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A very striking, Eden Valley nose with white flowers and stones, as well as lemon-blossom aromas. The palate has a super fresh, steely resolve with intensity and glassy, seamless structure. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Incredibly citrusy on the nose, the 2019 Bin 51 Riesling boasts an exciting mélange of tangerine, lemon, lime and grapefruit. Bottled just a week prior to tasting, it seemed to be suffering no ill effects, showing terrific balance and a lithe, medium-bodied feel on the palate, followed by a crisp, racy finish. One of the best Bin 51s I've ever tasted, it's approachable now but with at least a decade's worth of longevity.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Penfolds Bin 51 Riesling is a superb effort. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of dried flowers, tart apple, and a touch of fusel. Enjoy it with fresh, cracked Dungeness crab. (Tasted: September 24, 2021, Rutherford, CA)
Since 1844, Penfolds has been grounded in experimentation, curiosity and uncompromising quality. Their success has been driven by a lineage of visionary winemakers. It began with Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold, the pioneers who dreamed big, inventing tonics, brandies, and fortified wines made from grapes and Australian sunshine. It continued with celebrated winemaking legends including Max Schubert, who pushed the development to extraordinary, bold new heights. It is this pioneering spirit and curiosity that still rings true after nearly two centuries, it is what has helped Penfolds become one of the most celebrated winemakers in the world today.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
Higher in elevation and topographically more dramatic than the Barossa Valley floor, Eden Valley abuts it to its south and east. While it is a bit of an extension of Barossa, Eden Valley is topographically different than the pastoral Barossa Valley, and is composed of rocky hills and eucalyptus groves.
Recognizing Eden Valley’s potential with Riesling in the 1960s and 70s, producers started to move their Riesling production from Barossa to these better sites where schist soils on hilltops would produce more steely, tart and age-worthy examples. A most famous site, planted by Colin Gramp, called Steingarten, today produces one of the most outstanding Australian Rieslings. Youthful Eden Valley Rieslings express floral, grapefruit and mineral, while with time in the bottle, they become increasingly toasty and complex.
Riesling isn’t the only grape the region can grow; undeniably at lower altitudes Shiraz does very well. Mount Edelstone is a notable vineyard as well as the Hill of Grace, which boasts healthy Shiraz vines well over 100 years old. This is the only Australian region where Merlot has a made a name for itself and Chardonnay can be spectacular, particularly from the High Eden subregion in the southern valley.