Ranked #9 of 62 2023 Chardonnay from Adelaide Hills
94/100
4.5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Very light yellow colour; smoky snuffed candle and waxy aromas, some smoky reduction and toastiness from oak, but the wine is very complex in a savoury way. Very fine and piercingly intense on the palate; tensioned and focused, delicate and light on its feet. The full richness and sweetness of the fruit was more obvious a day later.
Tasted: 03/03/2025
Drink: 2025 to 2035
97 Points James Halliday
From 500m above sea level. You can smell the flint and struck match from a foot away from the glass. It's of a distinct style, all minerally, chalky-puckering and racy, but there's enough depth of flavour to titillate and please all comers, while being distinctly savoury and complex. Fantastic. Almond friand amongst green apple, grapefruit, mineral water, lime with umami-like characters rolling through. Touches of parmesan and sea spray also here. You could keep the descriptors rolling. Utterly fantastic wine, where flavour is paramount, texture is stellar, length is outstanding; it's refreshing, and the wine is just straight-up delicious. Kudos. Drink 2024 - 2038.
Source: James Halliday.