2022 Ewen Chardonnay

Single Vineyard Range

2022 McKelvey Vineyard Chardonnay

Variety:     100% Chardonnay       

Vineyard:  McKelvey Vineyard

Region:     Pokolbin, Hunter Valley               

Vine age:  Vines planted in 1998                                                 

Tasting Note

Planted on a western-facing hillside on Deasys Road, Pokolbin, the McKelvey Vineyard was established in 1997/1998 by the viticulturalist and winemaker David Lowe; the property is proudly family-owned and operated, farmed by Peter McKelvey and his son James. The soils on this site are profound; rich red-brown clay loam with underlying chalky limestone, one of the most desirable soils for the growth of quality Chardonnay. The rows here wrap around the contours of the hills and valleys of a magnificent property, with Chardonnay running both NE-SW and NW-SE, balancing the exposure and shading of the fruit across the sunny days of the growing season. The quality vinestock here is also important, with Chardonnay clone I10V5 highly recognised for generating fruit with strong varietal distinction and wine quality.

The 2022 Chardonnay is a silky, sophisticated wine. There is fine frame and finesse, yet complexity grows in aromatic power as it breathes from an initial spark of flint and struck match to reveal cinnamon, ripe peach and autolysis. The palate follows through with ripe pineapple, super-smooth creamy softness and peach-skin crunch. These elements of fruit quality, ferment funk and barrel maturation beckon and entice as a young wine, but even more certainly as a wine that will reward those who cellar it.

95pointsHallidayWineCompanion

Drink: Now - 2030 
257 dozen made.

Technical Data

Alcohol:  13.6%
pH:          3.24
TA:          7.3        

2023 Hunter Valley Chardonnay

Variety:     100% Chardonnay
Region:     Hunter Valley
Vine Age:  20+ years old

Tasting Notes

A brilliant year for growing and making Chardonnay. There is the full spectrum of yellow and golden fruits on the nose and palate, intertwined with barrel, yeast and struck-match flint character - each layer of character with so much more to give as this wine sits in the glass, breathes and relaxes.

Drink: Now to 2030

Technical Data

Alcohol: 12.5%

Single Vineyard Range

2022 Latara Vineyard Semillon                                           

Variety:      100% Semillon 

Vineyard:    Keith Tulloch Latara Vineyard

Region:       Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

Vine age:    Vines planted in 1978

Tasting Notes

In comparison to our other Semillon vineyards, this site has by far the darkest, richest clay soils. This results in a wine that has more body and power than our typical style but is truly expressive of the old vines on this unique site. Oriented East-West on a gently sloping block, these long rows of vines have plentiful sunlight, whilst the volcanic clay and limestone soils have good water-holding capacity that supports moderate shoot vigour. Therefore, the vines require minimal input for excellent quality and have consistently produced this single-vineyard wine since 2018.

The 2022 vintage was a cool year that delivered classically balanced and pure white wines, particularly for Semillon. The aromas of the wine are wonderfully primary and lifted, featuring lemonade-like ripe citrus fruit with complex traces of frangipani, chamomile and nashi pear. The palate is vivid and intense, umami roundness enveloping the central core of green apple, white pineapple and citrus. The extremely long persistence carries the flavour of grapefruit zest with a chalky, river-stone savouriness.

96pointsHallidayWineCompanion

Drink: Now - 2030. 
164 dozen made.                                                          

Technical Data
Alcohol   10.4%
pH           2.96
TA           7.2

2021 Hunter Valley Shiraz Viognier

Variety:     Shiraz (95%) | Viognier (5%)
Region:     Hunter Valley
Vine Age:  40+ years old

Tasting Notes

This mild growing season created classically elegant Hunter Valley reds; soft and immediately attractive. The colour carries an intense red-blue with violet hue, the aromas are a melange of black cherry and orange blossom. On the palate the fruit carries blackberry, cola and Turkish delight underpinned by a velvet creaminess and chocolatey roundness - the magic of Shiraz-Viognier co-fermentation.

Drink: Now to 2030

Technical Data

Alcohol 13%