2024 Hunter Valley Chardonnay

2022 Hunter Valley Shiraz Viognier

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

Tasting Notes

A  classically elegant Hunter Valley red; soft and immediately attractive with smooth tannins and glossy balance. Vibrant Shiraz aromatics full of black cherry and liquorice with the Viognier adding rose petal and  musk. Fruit flavours carry blackberry, cola and Turkish Delight underpinned by a velvet creaminess and chocolatey roundness - the magic of Shiraz-Viognier co-fermentation.  

92 points Halliday Wine Companion

Drink: Now to 2030

Technical Data

Alcohol 13%

Variety: 100% Shiraz

Region: Hunter Valley

Tasting Note

This is an elegant light dry red that embodies the historic 'HRB' style of the Hunter Valley wine region; this is a wine that is fresh and ready to enjoy, delightfully supple and juicy.

The nose fills with subtle cinnamon spice, lavender and rose petal, carrying onto the palate to add delicate layers over the lip-smacking red cherry flavour. Its deliciously approachable and easy to enjoy.

You can pour at room temperature or even chilled to enjoy with good food and company.

Drink: Now

Food Match: Pizza, BBQ, Pasta

Single Vineyard Range

Ewen Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

Variety:   Chardonnay 100%

Vineyard: Ewen Vineyard

Region:    Broke-Fordwich, Hunter Valley

Tasting Note

This vineyard is owned and farmed by Stewart and Liz Ewen. Sited close to the base of the Brokenback range in the Broke-Fordwich subregion, planted to the high quality Chardonnay clone P58. The well drained alluvial soils are sheltered from afternoon Western heat by the lee of the mountains.

A powerful aromatic mélange of orchard fruits from a warm vintage highlighting nectarine through citrus and green melon, to the reductive undercurrent aromas of gun-flint and oyster-shell. Subtle aromas of barrel spice give a quieter aromatic undertow, with warm brown-spice and notes of nougat and almond.

The palate is long and plush with ripe stone-fruit, apple, and melon fruits combining with notes of pastry, cashew and butterscotch. Dynamic elements of flint and mineral give savoury brightness with exotic and appetising flair.

This young and expressive Chardonnay is an outstanding example ready for enjoyment now but will age superbly if you have the patience.

Drink Now to 2035

88 dozen made

91 points The Real Review, 94pts Halliday Wine Companion

Technical Data

Alcohol: 12.8%
pH:         3.30
TA:          6.5

Single Vineyard Range

2024 WCD Vineyard Shiraz

Variety:     Shiraz (100%) 
Region:     Hunter Valley

Vineyard:  WCD Vineyard

This vineyard is located less than 14km from our cellar door, on Wine Country Drive in Central Pokolbin. This site enjoys balanced weather influences, gifting the vineyard with slightly cooler summer days with slightly more Easterly breeze. Soils are deep brown clays with flecks of red ironstone.

Shiraz aromatics of rich black cherry with concentrated blackberry, plus fresh leaf-and-flower accents of sweet briar and wild rose. Deeper spice-notes of juniper and black-pepper chime in too, with fine French-oak contributing subtle, elegant, and complex notes of vanilla and cinnamon.

Inky black-fruits dominate the palate, from black cherry to sweet blackcurrant, fanning out gradually with soft velvety notes of glace-fruits and dark chocolate. From mid-palate to the finish these flavours retain their power and energy, gaining lasting accents of liquorice, integrating beautifully with the softness of toasty barrel-spice. Tannins are deep and spice-laden too, gently staining the tongue with hints of malty Assam tea and graphite.

2 or 3 years in the cellar would be ideal, or if drinking before then decant for early reward.

Drink: Now to 2035

Only 157 dozen made                                                                     95 points The Real Review

Technical Data

Alc 14.7%

pH  3.5

TA  6.5