2023 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
The Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2023 Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Chardonnay is made with pressed whole clusters. The juice is settled overnight and starts a wild ferment (to dryness) in barrel. It matures in oak for 10 months, with minimum stirring of the lees. This vintage saw 30% malolactic fermentation. Secondary fermentation is vintage specific, and some years it doesn't happen at all. This mineral-driven Chardonnay offers a drying signature of crushed oyster shell that folds softly into tropical fruits and pineapple. The mouthfeel is brimming with tension and energy. Acidity and minerality make this a distinctively marine Chardonnay.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Chardonnay matured in mainly 300-liter light-toast barrels (one-third new) for nine months. It has a straightforward bouquet that just needs a little more complexity to come through. The palate is fresh on the entry with fine acidity and notes of lime and citrus peel. I just need to see a little more depth on the finish.
Full bottle 1,349 g. Grown on stony low-vigour, clay-rich, shale-derived soil. Barrel-fermented and aged in Francois Frères 300-litre barrels (24% new) for nine months. Yield just 14.8 hl/ha. RS 2.1 g/l. 3,848 cases made. Pale gold. Light, restrained nose suggests a nice, long life for this satin-textured wine. Well-mannered and creamy with strong green-fruit flavours. Just a baby now but with some richness already. An undertow and persistence. This should cellar well. Such bright fruit! (JR)