McHenry Hohnen, Hazel's Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

Hazel's Vineyard Chardonnay, McHenry Hohnen 2022 (Single Vineyard)

Margaret River, Australia

Grape Variety: Chardonnay

Alcohol: 13% ABV

The Story

Biodynamic farming, minimal intervention winemaking, single vineyard wines of Margaret River.

Since its inception McHenry Hohnen has had an unwavering focus on crafting site expressive wines. As the vines age and the soils continue to evolve, the individuality and beauty of the land continually develop in our wines.

The wines of McHenry Hohnen are sourced from the family estate consisting of three vineyards, all located in the southern part of the Margaret River Wine Region: Hazel’s Vineyard and Farm, Calgardup Brook Vineyard and Burnside Vineyard. For decades, founder and owner Murray McHenry has been a leading proponent in pushing the viticultural boundaries of this pristine region. While the portfolio is grounded in Chardonnay and Bordeaux varieties, McHenry Hohnen are also well regarded for less traditional varieties for this region such as Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache, Mataro and Zinfandel.

McHenry Hohnen see their role as stewards of the land and have implemented organic farming practices for many years to create the optimal conditions for soil health and the quality of the grapes harvested. The winemaking team craft wines that pay homage to the site of origin and use low impact techniques combined with an acute attention to detail to achieve the goal of the finest site specific wines.

Whilst the story of McHenry Hohnen is steeped in the history of the region, we look to the future with anticipation as our soil, vines and wines continue to evolve.

Vineyard & Winemaking

100% Hazel’s Vineyard. Our southernmost vineyard which is further inland than our Burnside and Calgardup vineyards. Hazel’s combines cooling Southern Ocean influences with a northerly aspect and plenty of sunshine. Soil type: Ironstone gravel loam.

Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed and transferred directly to oak with full solids. Fermented by the native yeast in French oak barriques (approximately 30% new). Batonnage to encourage autolytic activity was based on flavour and partial MLF to balance the high natural acidity of this vintage. The wine was racked out of barrels with full lees to tank in December before bottling in February 2022.

Tasting Notes:

The 2021 Chardonnay Hazel's Vineyard is quite a classic Margaret River style, carrying both generous levels of flavour while retaining trademark finesse. Exuberant pineapple, grapefruit and tangy blossom fruits jump out of the blocks well matched by high quality, reserved new oak.

Cellaring & Service

Cellaring Potential: 10-15 years

Serving Temperature: 12–14°C

Allergens: This wine contains sulphites

Accolades

95+ pts - “Vanilla, plenty of chewy-pithy-fleshy citrus. Bold on the reduction side, which is flint dialed up. There are crunchy almond biscuits and very-very zesty and bitter pure citrus essence. Fresh cucumber thread of sweetness comes into play too. Milk powder dust on the nose. Powdery chalky mouthfeel. Concentration is through the roof. It needs time to fuse. But it will fuse into one beautiful thing, no doubt.”
Kasia Sobiesak, The Wine Front

94 pts - “An exceptional nose, subdued, classy and confident. Nougatine, cantaloupe and
jasmine notes, with a hint of cedar, reverberate across a mid-weighted palate with a juicy acid spine and strident length, taut and indelibly creamy all at once. Loam and gravel marks this single vineyard expression. A joy to drink. Drink or hold. From biodynamically grown grapes.”
Ned Goodwin MW, James Suckling

93 pts - “The 2021 Chardonnay Hazel's Vineyard is quite a classic Margaret River style, carrying both generous levels of flavour while retaining trademark finesse. Exuberant pineapple, grapefruit and tangy blossom fruits jump out of the blocks well matched by high quality, reserved new oak. Fantastic grapefruit flavour impact follows driven by juicy acidity before more savoury toasted almond and nougat emerge over a long, flavoursome finish.” 
Angus Hughson, Vinous

92 pts - “The cooler year doesn't sit as harmoniously in the 2021 Hazel's Vineyard Chardonnay as hoped: there are notes of Granny Smith apple, nashi pear and green pineapple. It is quite tropical and green, and minerally and herbal, too. This will/may evolve intensely over time, as the others do; however, at this early stage, it is very tight—almost linear—a touch green and closed.”
Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate