Chardonnay excellence with our Chardonnay Perfection McHenry Hohnen Collection. This exceptional selection showcases the finest Chardonnays from McHenry Hohnen, renowned for their dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Each bottle in this collection represents the pinnacle of Chardonnay, with vibrant fruit flavors, balanced acidity, and elegant oak integration. From the crisp, citrus notes of the cooler climates to the rich, buttery textures of warmer regions, this collection highlights the diverse expressions of Chardonnay. Perfect for connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike, the Chardonnay Perfection McHenry Hohnen Collection offers a sophisticated tasting journey through some of the most esteemed Chardonnays available. Enjoy the ultimate in Chardonnay perfection with every sip.
1 x McHenry Hohnen Apiary Block Chardonnay (Natural) 2023 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
95/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2022 vintage) 91/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2022 vintage) 94/100 Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2021 vintage) Bronze - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2021 vintage)
5 Star Winery - James Halliday "Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2022 & 2023"
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "A ‘natural’ chardonnay that's mighty good. Cloudy with a lovely straw hue, dare I say it has a minerally character with flavour aplenty ranging from citrus, lime jelly and ginger spice to lemon curd. It’s long and pure with texture, depth and fine-acid structure. It’s ultra-refreshing and so damn drinkable. Deceptive, because it’s not a simple wine. It has detail and layers. I could drink this all day. Or night." (2022 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Aromas of grapefruit, yeast, white flowers and a skinsy lift. Fleshy and textured on the palate: white stone fruit and mealy, with bright acidity and there's a grippy phenolic finish. " (2022 vinttage)
Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion "Fruit from the Apiary Block (within Hazel's Vineyard) where they keep beehives. Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed to a concrete egg (sans sulphur). Wild ferment and full mlf, left on lees for 10 months. Moved only once in the winery a few days prior to bottling; unfined, unfiltered, sans sulphur. This is exactly as you'd expect: creamy and rounded (all edges obliterated) from the mlf and concrete, the fruit is nutty and briny and there is a dehydrated orange-zest character that runs through the heart of it. It is textural, slightly chewy, but ultimately soft and pleasurable. A beautiful wine and a completely different take on Margaret River chardonnay." (2021 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Fresh and nutty aromas, just-ripe nectarine, green melon and nettles. A very fruit-driven palate, white stone fruit, grapefruit, a touch of grilled nuts and vanilla. The acidity is high toned, fresh and crunchy" (2021 vintage)
Winemaker "A ‘natural wine’, this is a pure and raw expression of place free from winemaking manipulation and artefact."
100% Chardonnay Alcohol: 12.8%
Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focusses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
1 x McHenry Hohnen Laterite Hills Chardonnay (Organic) 2022 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
92/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review 92/100 James Suckling 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson 95/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2021 vintage) 95/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2021 vintage) 92/100 James Suckling (2021 vintage) 90/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (2021 vintage) 96/100 Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2020 vintage) 95/100 Aaron Brasher (2020 vintage) 94/100 The Wine Front (2020 vintage) 93/100 CellarTracker (2020 vintage) 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson (2020 vintage) 95/100 James Halliday (2019 vintage) 93/100 Stuart Knox (2019 vintage)
97/100 - Top Chardonnay Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
5 Star Winery - James Halliday
“Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2022 & 2023 - Shortlisted. Ranked Top 8”.
Wine Companion Winery of the Year 2022
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Complex aromas of grapefruit pith, melon skin, just-ripe nectarine and talc. Full of flavour and richness. There's quite some power on the palate. Stone-fruit and tropical flavours are the driver along with pithy acidity and plenty of phenolic grip."
James Suckling "tight and rocky in the mouth. Curd, white peach, quince and nougat riffs are flecked across the gentle oak framework, the acidity maritime-salty while dragging easy-going length. This is the sort of sophisticated, albeit, relatively approachable chardonnay that serves as the regional totem. From biodynamically grown grapes."
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "Laterite Hills is about sourcing fruit off several sites and blending it into one harmonious wine. It works a treat. This is composed, delicious and stylish. Expect white peach, grapefruit, tangy zest and finger lime pop. There’s texture, a slip of creaminess and neat acidity to bring it all together." (2021 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Pale straw, bright and really youthful in the glass. Fragrant, pretty and lifted aromas of lemon pith, bath salts, citrus blossom and wet slate. Fine, delicate and pin-point on the palate, mouth-wateringly citrusy, juicy, mineral, pithy with lip smacking crunchy acidity. This is a class act and has a long life ahead of it." (2021 vintage)
James Suckling "This has aromas of white apricots, grapefruit, saltines and nutmeg. Fresh and elegant with a medium body and bright acidity. Refreshing sea breeze character to the fresh fruit and biscuit elements." (2021 vintage)
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "The 2021 Laterite Hills Chardonnay is tight, lithe and mineral. The acid and fruit rise as one in the mouth, with layers of very fine phenolics through the finish. Pretty, spicy, good." (2021 vintage)
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "Wowsers. This is super-serious... Unbelievable value for money: scintillating citrus acid line, concentrated, mouth-staining fruit and complex layers of crushed nuts, creamy tannins ... all wrapped into a long and reverberating tail of flavour. $42: speechless." (2020 vintage)
Aaron Brasher "Complex aromas of grilled nuts, nougat, white stone fruit, white flowers and struck-match. Tight and focused on the palate, grapefruit, melon, nectarine, nutty oak and a briney edge. The acidity is crunchy and there's a phenolic touch that provides grip, structure and mouth-feel" (2020 vintage)b
James Halliday " After a reticent bouquet, this springs into life on the palate with its clear-as-a-bell white peach/grapefruit varietal signature. French oak is little more than a shadow in the background, development potential unlimited." (2019 Vintage)
Stuart Knox "Medium straw-yellow colour in the glass, with a nose of roasted cashews, nectarine and hint of struck-match. Just-ripe white nectarine, bacon fat and oyster-brine fill the mouth whilst a lemon zest acidity coils it tightly across the palate. Very impressive drive and intensity, carrying it long and lingering for an age" (2019 Vintage)
100% Chardonnay Alcohol: 12.8%
Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focusses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
"McHenry Hohnen is tucked away off Bussell Highway to the south of Margaret River. The wines have bound from strength, a comment never truer than under the stewardship of winemaker Jacopo (Japo). Under his leadership, the wines have been catapulted into a new realm of quality. The chardonnays particularly exemplify that hard-to-achieve balance of pleasurable on release, and capable of graceful ageing. The move towards organics and sustainable farming has had a positive impact on the quality of the wines, and it is a delight to witness so much diversity in the vineyards - from experimental clones and new plantings, to sheep, chickens, olives and vegetables. McHenry Hohnen is an estate on the move - divert your eyes at your peril - EL."
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
1 x McHenry Hohnen Burnside Chardonnay (Organic) 2018 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
96/100 Campbell Mattinson 90/100 Stuart Knox (The Real Review) 96/100 Mike Bennie (2017 vintage) 94/100 Steven Creber (2017 vintage) 94/100 Nick Stock (2017 vintage) 94/100 Ray Jordan (2017 Vintage) 97/100 Ray Jordan, The West Australian (2016 vintage) 95/100 Mike Bennie, Wine Business Magazine (2016 vintage) 95/100 Gary Walsh, Winefront (2016 vintage) 92/100 Huan Hooke (2016 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards Commended - Decanter World Wine Awards (2014 vintage) Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2013 vintage) Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2012 vintage) Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2011 vintage) 5 Star Winery - James Halliday
Halliday's Wine Companion Awards 2023 - Top Wineries of 2022 & 2023
Campbell Mattinson "...There's a pure, strong drive of acidity running from start to finish too. It's a top drawer release. Grown on vines planted in '81. It's a flinty, funky chardonnay on the one hand, and powerful and long on the other. This really does establish its quality in emphatic terms. Nectarine, fig, grapefruit, grilled nut and spice character drive through the wine's more matchsticky notes."
Stuart Knox, The Real Review "Light straw-yellow colour. A vigorous nose of yellow nectarines and distinct reductive notes. Enters with a deep and muscular palate. Ripe stone fruits, and honey roast nuts fill the mouth. There's ample intensity, acidity does what it can to keep it driving long but it just loses a little focus into the very long finish."
Mike Bennie "A super Chardonnay at the Apex of Australia's growing list of high quality proponents, this is a tour de force of precise fruit character, savoury detail, minerally charm and general interest as an expression of Chardonnay. Succulent, exceptionally long, nutty notes in just-ripe nectarine with chalk-talc and saline character notes through. Outstanding." (2017 vintage)
Steven Creber "Dry-grown on riverine black basalt soil with a maritime influence. Wild ferment in barriques, approx. 25% new. Ripe and peachy on the bouquet with some nutty oak characters and lees-derived creaminess. Generous flavours and full in texture, harnessed by the acidity that runs full length on the palate and lingers in the aftertaste." (2017 vintage)
Nick Stock/James Suckling Margaret River Review 2020 "Attractive lemon and gunflint aromas with some restrained creaminess in the background. The palate has a beautifully smooth-honed feel with supple, citrusy fruit fitting in neatly. The acidity is a highlight, pitched just right. Drink now." (2017 vintage)
Ray Jordan, The West Australian Wine Guide 2020 "This is a beautifully textured and opulent chardonnay. Such deep stone fruit and creaminess with a slight edge of acid and oak. But it is so well integrated. This has a flinty edge to it with a very long and focused finish. There is some phenolics that seems to come from the full solids impact. And there is a slight flint and match stick character. Cellar 12 years" (2017 vintage)
Ray Jordan "Another cracking good chardonnay from this marvelous vineyard. It's once again my pick of the McHenry Hohnen chardonnays after a year off last year. Has that deeper textured palate character that I love, but still with a controlled linear feel in the mouth that gives it length and substained power. Slightly flinty with a nectarine/white peach character." (2016 vintage)
Mike Bennie "A supremely elegant Chardonnay of exceptional length, grace and finesse." (2016 vintage)
Gary Walsh "Burnside is one of the original Chardonnay plantings (1972) in Margaret River, and the only vineyard that’s sited on the river itself. Peach and lime, almond biscotti, a whisper of smoke and spice. Powerful but refined, with the crunch of mouth-watering stony acidity, and a strong current of white fruits rolling over it. There’s oatmeal and almond softness, but that crystalline acidity pushes it long and fresh on the finish. It’s a beautiful thing." (2016 vintage)
Huon Hooke "...the palate is lively with refreshing acidity and dominant lemon flavours. Good focus, intensity and palate length..." (2016 vintage)
Tasting Notes "Grapefruit, peach, roasted nuts and smoke give way to barrel ferment and matchstick complexities. Wild ferment and extended time on lees contribute to a delicious savoury character to the palate which is both powerful and defined by a core of natural acidity. From a heritage Margaret River vineyard on the river bank, this Chardonnay captures the unique character of this site."
Winemaker Notes "Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, full solids and wild fermentation in barrique (approx. 25% new). Post ferment, barrels are left cool but unsulphured for 4 months to encourage autolytic activity. Batonnage every two weeks based on flavour and partial MLF. Wine was racked with full lees to tank in December and spent two months on lees in tank before bottling unfiltered."
Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen, and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focus on crafting site expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined cabernet sauvignon and intensely citrusy chardonnay varieties, the region now produces high quality Semillon-Sauvignon blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes, Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean, to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak. Bolder, richer, full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays are made using oak and are produced in California, Burgundy, and Australia. Unoaked chardonnays such as Chablis and those produced in Chile, New Zealand, and other parts of France are leaner and often crisp and mineraly, with delicate flavors. By law, if a label says “Chablis,” it must be Chardonnay.
1 x McHenry Hohnen Calgardup Chardonnay (Organic) 2020 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
97/100 Halliday's Wine Companion, Erin Larkin 96/100 Wine Advocate 95/100 The Wine Front 96/100 Halliday's Wine Companion, Erin Larkin (2019 vintage) 96/100 The Real Review, Aaron Brasher, (2019 vintage) 93/100 Winepilot.com, Angus Hughson (2019 vintage) 91/100 Decanter (2019 vintage) 95/100 Campbell Mattinson (2018 vintage) 91/100 Decanter World Wine Awards (2018 vintage) 95/100 The Wine Front (2017 vintage) 93/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage) 94/100 The Wine Front (2016 vintage) 94/11 Decanter World Wine Awards (2015 vintage) 97/100 The Real Review (2015 vintage) 96/100 The West Australian Wine Guide 2017 (2015 vintage) 95/100 James Halliday Wine Companion 2017 (2014 vintage) 93/100 The Real Review (2014 vintage)
Bronze - Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2019 Bronze - 2019 Langton's Margaret River Wine Show Silver - Wine Show of Western Australia 2019
5-star Winery – Halliday Wine Companion
Top Chardonnay Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
Halliday's Wine Companion Awards 2023 - Top Wineries of 2022 & 2023
Organic
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "Fruit from the Calgardup Brook vineyard (planted 1997) on coastal limestone loam. All single-vineyard chardonnays are made in the same way here, highlighting the differences in terroir: Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, full solids, wild ferment in barrel (25% new) and 4 months' maturation, partial mlf, fortnightly bâtonnage. Where the Burnside is granitic, mineral and fine, this is pithy, saline and expansive, with layers of cheesecloth and lanolin amongst the ripe stone fruit. More volume and density of flavour than the Burnside (neither here nor there qualitatively, simply an observation), this is sensational. Utterly."
Halliday's Wine Companio, Erin Larkin "All 3 single-vineyard chardonnays are made in the same manner: hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, wild ferment in barrel (25% new) with full solids, partial mlf. This is perhaps my favourite (by a whisker) of these 2 single-vineyard chardonnays. It has a bitter phenolic kick through the finish that adds a layer of sparkle, interest and excitement to the wine and creates a salty undulation through the finish. It moves in a dappled way, this wine. I like it" (2019 vintage)
The Real Review, Aaron Brasher "Grilled nuts, grapefruit pith, marzipan, nougat, brine and struck-match aromas, really complex and alluring. Focused and fine on the palate, which is tight, citrusy, pithy, layered and long. There's real power and drive in the fruit, but a finesse and elegance to it. The oak and acidity sit beautifully within the wine and create layers of sophisticated bliss. (2019 vintage)
winepilot.com, Angus Hughson "From a southern vineyard located close to the coast, this is the most aromatically shy of the three wines but it carries exceptional complexity with bacon fat, delicatessen and melon fruit aromas plus honeyed oak in the background. It then builds considerably on the palate thanks to juicy acidity which provides fantastic energy with a distinctive saline edge to citrus fruits plus well integrated oak before a generous, pure finish." (2019 vintage)
Decanter "Fresh and zippy with hints of nougat, chargrilled pineapple and creamy custard. There's a density to the palate; concentration of fruit weight. Fresh focused and racey" (2019 vintage)
Campbell Mattinson “Elegant power is a good way to describe it. It's flinty but not too much so, fleshed with stone fruit, touched up with meal and green apple, and intricately complex to close. All the while sweet fruit flows. It's an easy wine to get excited over.” (2018 vintage)
Decanter “Soft and creamy, with intense lemon curd augmenting baking spice, green pineapple and mango skin. Packed and phenolic, with freshness and length.” 92018 vintage)
The Winemaker “The nose opens with notes of oyster shell, frangipani and sea spray with delicate nashi pear pulp and nectarine. Wild fermentation with full solids provides flinty complexity and extended time on lees adds intrigue and excellent length to the palate. A distinctive saline acidity and attractive chalk-like structure complement the mineral nature of this unique Southern Margaret River vineyard near the Indian Ocean.”
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front "Far out. How good are McHenry Hohnen wines getting? And quite diverse in their feel compared to most from the region. Stellar. Lots of battonage, lots of lees, “I’m just obsessed with flavour” says winemaker Julian Grounds. Righteous. So much to like here. A quietly powerful, detailed chardonnay that shows with citrus, green apple, lashings of ‘mineral’, faint toast and whiffs of peanut/cashew. The palate follows a similar route, powerful in flavour but not stretching the palate with oomph, instead, precise, tight, true and long. Scintillating stuff here." (2017 Vintage)
Nick Butler, The Real Review "An attractive mix of white stone fruits, citrus rind and classy oak. It's creamy on the front palate, which dives into a tart lemon and lime acidity. Bright, fresh and balanced; it's a lovely wine, though lacking the core and fruit weight of warmer ripening seasons." (2017 Vintage)
Nick Stock, James Suckling "Quite savory and elegant chardonnay with aromas of fresh pastry and dry stones, as well as white melon and light peach. The palate has sleek, elegantly cut style with melon and peach here, too, Very crisp, long and elegant. Drink or hold. Screw cap." (2017 Vintage)
Gary Walsh, The Wine Front "White peach, mint nougat, subtle spice, stones and struck match. Medium bodied, cool and flinty, beautiful fine acidity, citrus and a suggestion of lemon curd, with a tight long lemon-laced finish. Great bone structure here, and a fine and exciting wine to drink." (2016 Vintage)
Nick Ryan, The Australian "The coolest of the three sites, feeling the force of the ocean breezes and planted on coastal sand. It shows. The wine is lean, tight and linear, smells of sea spray and the pith of preserved lemons, and hums with a fine, flinty acidity. For now, my pick of the three." (2016 Vintage)
Peter Forrestal, Decanter "Sourced from an estate vineyard in the region's cool south near Witchcliffe, this has restrained power and tightly coiled grapefruit and citrus flavours, before a mouth-puckering finish that lingers." (2015 Vintage)
Ray Jordan, The West Australian Wine Guide 2017 "Another superb wine from this vineyard which always seems to to produce wines of such delicate finesse and fineness. This is right on the money but still with an intensity and persistence that stamps the chardonnay style. The best yet from this vineyard." (2015 Vintage)
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front " We’ve all known that McHenry Hohnen has been a bit of a secret weapon for terrific (chardonnay particularly) Margaret River wines, but with their shift to biodynamic farming and now a new winemaker in Julian Grounds, hold onto your hats. Grounds has done his time at Giant Steps with Steve Flamsteed, and has papal blessings from Flamsteed in this new role. Indeed, word on the street is, many, many people are thrilled for this move. A touch of high end Yarra hits Margs. Nice one. Grounds in his early days has already reached out to say gday, personally, unprompted it felt, which says something about determination and intent. Stay tuned.
Complex bouquet shows stone fruit, green apple, faint flint/struck match, whiff of grilled nuts, faint fern character. Pitch perfect delicate. More assertive to taste with a flood of green apple, savoury oatmeal and nuttiness, gentle cedar spice, cool acidity. Even flow, superb balance, elegance. It’s very, very good, seamless, supple chardonnay. Classic. " (2015 Vintage)
James Halliday "The Calgardup Brook Vineyard lies just inland from the coast, with well weathered sandy, schisty soils; hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed to French oak (20% new), wild-fermented, no mlf, aged on lees. Lemon meringue is a great call for the bouquet, some spice also in the action; elegant white peach flavours give way to bouncy grapefruit zest on the well balanced and long finish." (2014 Vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Light, bright yellow hue and a lifted ethyl acetate aroma, the volatility confirmed by the palate. It has issues. Most drinkers would not identify them, but the VA (volatile acidity) did inhibit the flavour and aroma. Extraordinarily, though, the longer this wine was exposed to the air, the better it tasted. Food (Comte cheese) also helped tame the beast. It soon became delicious. Very dry, nicely concentrated flavour and acidity, layers of complex aromas and flavours, good oak and 'worked' lees characters. A very good wine indeed. Wild ferment VA is forgiven." (2014 Vintage)
James Halliday "Whole bunch-pressed, wild yeast-fermented, matured in French barriques (20% new) with lees contact. Is very focused and tight, its flavours wound up in a ball of fruit, with generic white stone fruit and melon lurking in the shadows." (2013 Vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Medium to full straw-yellow hue. The bouquet is toasty and lightly smoky, attractive and quite complex, with richness and concentration, depth and weight. Indeed, it's an opulent style, full-bodied and generously proportioned. The finish is very long and resonant, partly due to the heat from apparently high alcohol. (it certainly seems higher than the stated 13.5%) This needs food and would cope with strongly flavoured white meat dishes." (2013 Vintage)
James Halliday Wine Companion 2014 "This has the lightest colour of the three, here the soils, just inland from the coast, are sandy and schisty, and well weathered; it is the most intense and elegant, with white stone fruit and grapefruit at its core." (2012 Vintage)
James Halliday Wine Companion 2012 "Bright straw-green; the faintly funky bouquet is complex, an appropriate introduction for a palate with layers of flavour of white peach and fig/cashew ex partial mlf, before glorious grapefruit acidity takes over and drives the wine through to its lingering, pure finish." (2009 Vintage)
McHenry Hohnen was founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focuses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location, which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes. Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak. Bolder, richer, full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays are made using oak and are produced in California, Burgundy, and Australia. Unoaked chardonnays such as Chablis and those produced in Chile, New Zealand, and other parts of France are leaner and often crisp and mineraly, with delicate flavors. By law, if a label says “Chablis,” it must be Chardonnay.
2 x McHenry Hohnen Calgardup Brook Vineyard Chardonnay (Organic) 2018 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
95/100 Campbell Mattinson 91/100 Decanter World Wine Awards 97/100 - Top Chardonnay Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023 (2020 vintage) 95/100 The Wine Front (2017 vintage) 93/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage) 94/100 The Wine Front (2016 vintage) 94/11 Decanter World Wine Awards (2015 vintage) 97/100 The Real Review (2015 vintage) 96/100 The West Australian Wine Guide 2017 (2015 vintage) 95/100 James Halliday Wine Companion 2017 (2014 vintage) 93/100 The Real Review (2014 vintage)
Bronze - Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2019 Bronze - 2019 Langton's Margaret River Wine Show Silver - Wine Show of Western Australia 2019
5-star Winery – Halliday Wine Companion
Halliday's Wine Companion Awards 2023 - Top Wineries of 2022 & 2023
Organic
Campbell Mattinson “Elegant power is a good way to describe it. It's flinty but not too much so, fleshed with stone fruit, touched up with meal and green apple, and intricately complex to close. All the while sweet fruit flows. It's an easy wine to get excited over.”
Decanter “Soft and creamy, with intense lemon curd augmenting baking spice, green pineapple and mango skin. Packed and phenolic, with freshness and length.”
The Winemaker “The nose opens with notes of oyster shell, frangipani and sea spray with delicate nashi pear pulp and nectarine. Wild fermentation with full solids provides flinty complexity and extended time on lees adds intrigue and excellent length to the palate. A distinctive saline acidity and attractive chalk-like structure complement the mineral nature of this unique Southern Margaret River vineyard near the Indian Ocean.”
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "Fruit from the Calgardup Brook vineyard (planted 1997) on coastal limestone loam. All single-vineyard chardonnays are made in the same way here, highlighting the differences in terroir: Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, full solids, wild ferment in barrel (25% new) and 4 months' maturation, partial mlf, fortnightly bâtonnage. Where the Burnside is granitic, mineral and fine, this is pithy, saline and expansive, with layers of cheesecloth and lanolin amongst the ripe stone fruit. More volume and density of flavour than the Burnside (neither here nor there qualitatively, simply an observation), this is sensational. Utterly." (2020 vintage)
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front "Far out. How good are McHenry Hohnen wines getting? And quite diverse in their feel compared to most from the region. Stellar. Lots of battonage, lots of lees, “I’m just obsessed with flavour” says winemaker Julian Grounds. Righteous. So much to like here. A quietly powerful, detailed chardonnay that shows with citrus, green apple, lashings of ‘mineral’, faint toast and whiffs of peanut/cashew. The palate follows a similar route, powerful in flavour but not stretching the palate with oomph, instead, precise, tight, true and long. Scintillating stuff here." (2017 Vintage)
Nick Butler, The Real Review "An attractive mix of white stone fruits, citrus rind and classy oak. It's creamy on the front palate, which dives into a tart lemon and lime acidity. Bright, fresh and balanced; it's a lovely wine, though lacking the core and fruit weight of warmer ripening seasons." (2017 Vintage)
Nick Stock, James Suckling "Quite savory and elegant chardonnay with aromas of fresh pastry and dry stones, as well as white melon and light peach. The palate has sleek, elegantly cut style with melon and peach here, too, Very crisp, long and elegant. Drink or hold. Screw cap." (2017 Vintage)
Gary Walsh, The Wine Front "White peach, mint nougat, subtle spice, stones and struck match. Medium bodied, cool and flinty, beautiful fine acidity, citrus and a suggestion of lemon curd, with a tight long lemon-laced finish. Great bone structure here, and a fine and exciting wine to drink." (2016 Vintage)
Nick Ryan, The Australian "The coolest of the three sites, feeling the force of the ocean breezes and planted on coastal sand. It shows. The wine is lean, tight and linear, smells of sea spray and the pith of preserved lemons, and hums with a fine, flinty acidity. For now, my pick of the three." (2016 Vintage)
Peter Forrestal, Decanter "Sourced from an estate vineyard in the region's cool south near Witchcliffe, this has restrained power and tightly coiled grapefruit and citrus flavours, before a mouth-puckering finish that lingers." (2015 Vintage)
Ray Jordan, The West Australian Wine Guide 2017 "Another superb wine from this vineyard which always seems to to produce wines of such delicate finesse and fineness. This is right on the money but still with an intensity and persistence that stamps the chardonnay style. The best yet from this vineyard." (2015 Vintage)
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front " We’ve all known that McHenry Hohnen has been a bit of a secret weapon for terrific (chardonnay particularly) Margaret River wines, but with their shift to biodynamic farming and now a new winemaker in Julian Grounds, hold onto your hats. Grounds has done his time at Giant Steps with Steve Flamsteed, and has papal blessings from Flamsteed in this new role. Indeed, word on the street is, many, many people are thrilled for this move. A touch of high end Yarra hits Margs. Nice one. Grounds in his early days has already reached out to say gday, personally, unprompted it felt, which says something about determination and intent. Stay tuned.
Complex bouquet shows stone fruit, green apple, faint flint/struck match, whiff of grilled nuts, faint fern character. Pitch perfect delicate. More assertive to taste with a flood of green apple, savoury oatmeal and nuttiness, gentle cedar spice, cool acidity. Even flow, superb balance, elegance. It’s very, very good, seamless, supple chardonnay. Classic. " (2015 Vintage)
James Halliday "The Calgardup Brook Vineyard lies just inland from the coast, with well weathered sandy, schisty soils; hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed to French oak (20% new), wild-fermented, no mlf, aged on lees. Lemon meringue is a great call for the bouquet, some spice also in the action; elegant white peach flavours give way to bouncy grapefruit zest on the well balanced and long finish." (2014 Vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Light, bright yellow hue and a lifted ethyl acetate aroma, the volatility confirmed by the palate. It has issues. Most drinkers would not identify them, but the VA (volatile acidity) did inhibit the flavour and aroma. Extraordinarily, though, the longer this wine was exposed to the air, the better it tasted. Food (Comte cheese) also helped tame the beast. It soon became delicious. Very dry, nicely concentrated flavour and acidity, layers of complex aromas and flavours, good oak and 'worked' lees characters. A very good wine indeed. Wild ferment VA is forgiven." (2014 Vintage)
James Halliday "Whole bunch-pressed, wild yeast-fermented, matured in French barriques (20% new) with lees contact. Is very focused and tight, its flavours wound up in a ball of fruit, with generic white stone fruit and melon lurking in the shadows." (2013 Vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Medium to full straw-yellow hue. The bouquet is toasty and lightly smoky, attractive and quite complex, with richness and concentration, depth and weight. Indeed, it's an opulent style, full-bodied and generously proportioned. The finish is very long and resonant, partly due to the heat from apparently high alcohol. (it certainly seems higher than the stated 13.5%) This needs food and would cope with strongly flavoured white meat dishes." (2013 Vintage)
James Halliday Wine Companion 2014 "This has the lightest colour of the three, here the soils, just inland from the coast, are sandy and schisty, and well weathered; it is the most intense and elegant, with white stone fruit and grapefruit at its core." (2012 Vintage)
James Halliday Wine Companion 2012 "Bright straw-green; the faintly funky bouquet is complex, an appropriate introduction for a palate with layers of flavour of white peach and fig/cashew ex partial mlf, before glorious grapefruit acidity takes over and drives the wine through to its lingering, pure finish." (2009 Vintage)
McHenry Hohnen was founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focuses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location, which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes. Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak. Bolder, richer, full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays are made using oak and are produced in California, Burgundy, and Australia. Unoaked chardonnays such as Chablis and those produced in Chile, New Zealand, and other parts of France are leaner and often crisp and mineraly, with delicate flavors. By law, if a label says “Chablis,” it must be Chardonnay.
Chardonnay excellence with our Chardonnay Perfection McHenry Hohnen Collection. This exceptional selection showcases the finest Chardonnays from McHenry Hohnen, renowned for their dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Each bottle in this collection represents the pinnacle of Chardonnay, with vibrant fruit flavors, balanced acidity, and elegant oak integration. From the crisp, citrus notes of the cooler climates to the rich, buttery textures of warmer regions, this collection highlights the diverse expressions of Chardonnay. Perfect for connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike, the Chardonnay Perfection McHenry Hohnen Collection offers a sophisticated tasting journey through some of the most esteemed Chardonnays available. Enjoy the ultimate in Chardonnay perfection with every sip.
1 x McHenry Hohnen Apiary Block Chardonnay (Natural) 2023 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
95/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2022 vintage) 91/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2022 vintage) 94/100 Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2021 vintage) Bronze - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2021 vintage)
5 Star Winery - James Halliday "Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2022 & 2023"
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "A ‘natural’ chardonnay that's mighty good. Cloudy with a lovely straw hue, dare I say it has a minerally character with flavour aplenty ranging from citrus, lime jelly and ginger spice to lemon curd. It’s long and pure with texture, depth and fine-acid structure. It’s ultra-refreshing and so damn drinkable. Deceptive, because it’s not a simple wine. It has detail and layers. I could drink this all day. Or night." (2022 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Aromas of grapefruit, yeast, white flowers and a skinsy lift. Fleshy and textured on the palate: white stone fruit and mealy, with bright acidity and there's a grippy phenolic finish. " (2022 vinttage)
Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion "Fruit from the Apiary Block (within Hazel's Vineyard) where they keep beehives. Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed to a concrete egg (sans sulphur). Wild ferment and full mlf, left on lees for 10 months. Moved only once in the winery a few days prior to bottling; unfined, unfiltered, sans sulphur. This is exactly as you'd expect: creamy and rounded (all edges obliterated) from the mlf and concrete, the fruit is nutty and briny and there is a dehydrated orange-zest character that runs through the heart of it. It is textural, slightly chewy, but ultimately soft and pleasurable. A beautiful wine and a completely different take on Margaret River chardonnay." (2021 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Fresh and nutty aromas, just-ripe nectarine, green melon and nettles. A very fruit-driven palate, white stone fruit, grapefruit, a touch of grilled nuts and vanilla. The acidity is high toned, fresh and crunchy" (2021 vintage)
Winemaker "A ‘natural wine’, this is a pure and raw expression of place free from winemaking manipulation and artefact."
100% Chardonnay Alcohol: 12.8%
Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focusses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
1 x McHenry Hohnen Laterite Hills Chardonnay (Organic) 2022 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
92/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review 92/100 James Suckling 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson 95/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2021 vintage) 95/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2021 vintage) 92/100 James Suckling (2021 vintage) 90/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (2021 vintage) 96/100 Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2020 vintage) 95/100 Aaron Brasher (2020 vintage) 94/100 The Wine Front (2020 vintage) 93/100 CellarTracker (2020 vintage) 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson (2020 vintage) 95/100 James Halliday (2019 vintage) 93/100 Stuart Knox (2019 vintage)
97/100 - Top Chardonnay Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
5 Star Winery - James Halliday
“Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2022 & 2023 - Shortlisted. Ranked Top 8”.
Wine Companion Winery of the Year 2022
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Complex aromas of grapefruit pith, melon skin, just-ripe nectarine and talc. Full of flavour and richness. There's quite some power on the palate. Stone-fruit and tropical flavours are the driver along with pithy acidity and plenty of phenolic grip."
James Suckling "tight and rocky in the mouth. Curd, white peach, quince and nougat riffs are flecked across the gentle oak framework, the acidity maritime-salty while dragging easy-going length. This is the sort of sophisticated, albeit, relatively approachable chardonnay that serves as the regional totem. From biodynamically grown grapes."
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "Laterite Hills is about sourcing fruit off several sites and blending it into one harmonious wine. It works a treat. This is composed, delicious and stylish. Expect white peach, grapefruit, tangy zest and finger lime pop. There’s texture, a slip of creaminess and neat acidity to bring it all together." (2021 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Pale straw, bright and really youthful in the glass. Fragrant, pretty and lifted aromas of lemon pith, bath salts, citrus blossom and wet slate. Fine, delicate and pin-point on the palate, mouth-wateringly citrusy, juicy, mineral, pithy with lip smacking crunchy acidity. This is a class act and has a long life ahead of it." (2021 vintage)
James Suckling "This has aromas of white apricots, grapefruit, saltines and nutmeg. Fresh and elegant with a medium body and bright acidity. Refreshing sea breeze character to the fresh fruit and biscuit elements." (2021 vintage)
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "The 2021 Laterite Hills Chardonnay is tight, lithe and mineral. The acid and fruit rise as one in the mouth, with layers of very fine phenolics through the finish. Pretty, spicy, good." (2021 vintage)
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "Wowsers. This is super-serious... Unbelievable value for money: scintillating citrus acid line, concentrated, mouth-staining fruit and complex layers of crushed nuts, creamy tannins ... all wrapped into a long and reverberating tail of flavour. $42: speechless." (2020 vintage)
Aaron Brasher "Complex aromas of grilled nuts, nougat, white stone fruit, white flowers and struck-match. Tight and focused on the palate, grapefruit, melon, nectarine, nutty oak and a briney edge. The acidity is crunchy and there's a phenolic touch that provides grip, structure and mouth-feel" (2020 vintage)b
James Halliday " After a reticent bouquet, this springs into life on the palate with its clear-as-a-bell white peach/grapefruit varietal signature. French oak is little more than a shadow in the background, development potential unlimited." (2019 Vintage)
Stuart Knox "Medium straw-yellow colour in the glass, with a nose of roasted cashews, nectarine and hint of struck-match. Just-ripe white nectarine, bacon fat and oyster-brine fill the mouth whilst a lemon zest acidity coils it tightly across the palate. Very impressive drive and intensity, carrying it long and lingering for an age" (2019 Vintage)
100% Chardonnay Alcohol: 12.8%
Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focusses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
"McHenry Hohnen is tucked away off Bussell Highway to the south of Margaret River. The wines have bound from strength, a comment never truer than under the stewardship of winemaker Jacopo (Japo). Under his leadership, the wines have been catapulted into a new realm of quality. The chardonnays particularly exemplify that hard-to-achieve balance of pleasurable on release, and capable of graceful ageing. The move towards organics and sustainable farming has had a positive impact on the quality of the wines, and it is a delight to witness so much diversity in the vineyards - from experimental clones and new plantings, to sheep, chickens, olives and vegetables. McHenry Hohnen is an estate on the move - divert your eyes at your peril - EL."
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
1 x McHenry Hohnen Burnside Chardonnay (Organic) 2018 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
96/100 Campbell Mattinson 90/100 Stuart Knox (The Real Review) 96/100 Mike Bennie (2017 vintage) 94/100 Steven Creber (2017 vintage) 94/100 Nick Stock (2017 vintage) 94/100 Ray Jordan (2017 Vintage) 97/100 Ray Jordan, The West Australian (2016 vintage) 95/100 Mike Bennie, Wine Business Magazine (2016 vintage) 95/100 Gary Walsh, Winefront (2016 vintage) 92/100 Huan Hooke (2016 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards Commended - Decanter World Wine Awards (2014 vintage) Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2013 vintage) Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2012 vintage) Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2011 vintage) 5 Star Winery - James Halliday
Halliday's Wine Companion Awards 2023 - Top Wineries of 2022 & 2023
Campbell Mattinson "...There's a pure, strong drive of acidity running from start to finish too. It's a top drawer release. Grown on vines planted in '81. It's a flinty, funky chardonnay on the one hand, and powerful and long on the other. This really does establish its quality in emphatic terms. Nectarine, fig, grapefruit, grilled nut and spice character drive through the wine's more matchsticky notes."
Stuart Knox, The Real Review "Light straw-yellow colour. A vigorous nose of yellow nectarines and distinct reductive notes. Enters with a deep and muscular palate. Ripe stone fruits, and honey roast nuts fill the mouth. There's ample intensity, acidity does what it can to keep it driving long but it just loses a little focus into the very long finish."
Mike Bennie "A super Chardonnay at the Apex of Australia's growing list of high quality proponents, this is a tour de force of precise fruit character, savoury detail, minerally charm and general interest as an expression of Chardonnay. Succulent, exceptionally long, nutty notes in just-ripe nectarine with chalk-talc and saline character notes through. Outstanding." (2017 vintage)
Steven Creber "Dry-grown on riverine black basalt soil with a maritime influence. Wild ferment in barriques, approx. 25% new. Ripe and peachy on the bouquet with some nutty oak characters and lees-derived creaminess. Generous flavours and full in texture, harnessed by the acidity that runs full length on the palate and lingers in the aftertaste." (2017 vintage)
Nick Stock/James Suckling Margaret River Review 2020 "Attractive lemon and gunflint aromas with some restrained creaminess in the background. The palate has a beautifully smooth-honed feel with supple, citrusy fruit fitting in neatly. The acidity is a highlight, pitched just right. Drink now." (2017 vintage)
Ray Jordan, The West Australian Wine Guide 2020 "This is a beautifully textured and opulent chardonnay. Such deep stone fruit and creaminess with a slight edge of acid and oak. But it is so well integrated. This has a flinty edge to it with a very long and focused finish. There is some phenolics that seems to come from the full solids impact. And there is a slight flint and match stick character. Cellar 12 years" (2017 vintage)
Ray Jordan "Another cracking good chardonnay from this marvelous vineyard. It's once again my pick of the McHenry Hohnen chardonnays after a year off last year. Has that deeper textured palate character that I love, but still with a controlled linear feel in the mouth that gives it length and substained power. Slightly flinty with a nectarine/white peach character." (2016 vintage)
Mike Bennie "A supremely elegant Chardonnay of exceptional length, grace and finesse." (2016 vintage)
Gary Walsh "Burnside is one of the original Chardonnay plantings (1972) in Margaret River, and the only vineyard that’s sited on the river itself. Peach and lime, almond biscotti, a whisper of smoke and spice. Powerful but refined, with the crunch of mouth-watering stony acidity, and a strong current of white fruits rolling over it. There’s oatmeal and almond softness, but that crystalline acidity pushes it long and fresh on the finish. It’s a beautiful thing." (2016 vintage)
Huon Hooke "...the palate is lively with refreshing acidity and dominant lemon flavours. Good focus, intensity and palate length..." (2016 vintage)
Tasting Notes "Grapefruit, peach, roasted nuts and smoke give way to barrel ferment and matchstick complexities. Wild ferment and extended time on lees contribute to a delicious savoury character to the palate which is both powerful and defined by a core of natural acidity. From a heritage Margaret River vineyard on the river bank, this Chardonnay captures the unique character of this site."
Winemaker Notes "Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, full solids and wild fermentation in barrique (approx. 25% new). Post ferment, barrels are left cool but unsulphured for 4 months to encourage autolytic activity. Batonnage every two weeks based on flavour and partial MLF. Wine was racked with full lees to tank in December and spent two months on lees in tank before bottling unfiltered."
Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen, and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focus on crafting site expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined cabernet sauvignon and intensely citrusy chardonnay varieties, the region now produces high quality Semillon-Sauvignon blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes, Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean, to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak. Bolder, richer, full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays are made using oak and are produced in California, Burgundy, and Australia. Unoaked chardonnays such as Chablis and those produced in Chile, New Zealand, and other parts of France are leaner and often crisp and mineraly, with delicate flavors. By law, if a label says “Chablis,” it must be Chardonnay.
1 x McHenry Hohnen Calgardup Chardonnay (Organic) 2020 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
97/100 Halliday's Wine Companion, Erin Larkin 96/100 Wine Advocate 95/100 The Wine Front 96/100 Halliday's Wine Companion, Erin Larkin (2019 vintage) 96/100 The Real Review, Aaron Brasher, (2019 vintage) 93/100 Winepilot.com, Angus Hughson (2019 vintage) 91/100 Decanter (2019 vintage) 95/100 Campbell Mattinson (2018 vintage) 91/100 Decanter World Wine Awards (2018 vintage) 95/100 The Wine Front (2017 vintage) 93/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage) 94/100 The Wine Front (2016 vintage) 94/11 Decanter World Wine Awards (2015 vintage) 97/100 The Real Review (2015 vintage) 96/100 The West Australian Wine Guide 2017 (2015 vintage) 95/100 James Halliday Wine Companion 2017 (2014 vintage) 93/100 The Real Review (2014 vintage)
Bronze - Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2019 Bronze - 2019 Langton's Margaret River Wine Show Silver - Wine Show of Western Australia 2019
5-star Winery – Halliday Wine Companion
Top Chardonnay Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
Halliday's Wine Companion Awards 2023 - Top Wineries of 2022 & 2023
Organic
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "Fruit from the Calgardup Brook vineyard (planted 1997) on coastal limestone loam. All single-vineyard chardonnays are made in the same way here, highlighting the differences in terroir: Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, full solids, wild ferment in barrel (25% new) and 4 months' maturation, partial mlf, fortnightly bâtonnage. Where the Burnside is granitic, mineral and fine, this is pithy, saline and expansive, with layers of cheesecloth and lanolin amongst the ripe stone fruit. More volume and density of flavour than the Burnside (neither here nor there qualitatively, simply an observation), this is sensational. Utterly."
Halliday's Wine Companio, Erin Larkin "All 3 single-vineyard chardonnays are made in the same manner: hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, wild ferment in barrel (25% new) with full solids, partial mlf. This is perhaps my favourite (by a whisker) of these 2 single-vineyard chardonnays. It has a bitter phenolic kick through the finish that adds a layer of sparkle, interest and excitement to the wine and creates a salty undulation through the finish. It moves in a dappled way, this wine. I like it" (2019 vintage)
The Real Review, Aaron Brasher "Grilled nuts, grapefruit pith, marzipan, nougat, brine and struck-match aromas, really complex and alluring. Focused and fine on the palate, which is tight, citrusy, pithy, layered and long. There's real power and drive in the fruit, but a finesse and elegance to it. The oak and acidity sit beautifully within the wine and create layers of sophisticated bliss. (2019 vintage)
winepilot.com, Angus Hughson "From a southern vineyard located close to the coast, this is the most aromatically shy of the three wines but it carries exceptional complexity with bacon fat, delicatessen and melon fruit aromas plus honeyed oak in the background. It then builds considerably on the palate thanks to juicy acidity which provides fantastic energy with a distinctive saline edge to citrus fruits plus well integrated oak before a generous, pure finish." (2019 vintage)
Decanter "Fresh and zippy with hints of nougat, chargrilled pineapple and creamy custard. There's a density to the palate; concentration of fruit weight. Fresh focused and racey" (2019 vintage)
Campbell Mattinson “Elegant power is a good way to describe it. It's flinty but not too much so, fleshed with stone fruit, touched up with meal and green apple, and intricately complex to close. All the while sweet fruit flows. It's an easy wine to get excited over.” (2018 vintage)
Decanter “Soft and creamy, with intense lemon curd augmenting baking spice, green pineapple and mango skin. Packed and phenolic, with freshness and length.” 92018 vintage)
The Winemaker “The nose opens with notes of oyster shell, frangipani and sea spray with delicate nashi pear pulp and nectarine. Wild fermentation with full solids provides flinty complexity and extended time on lees adds intrigue and excellent length to the palate. A distinctive saline acidity and attractive chalk-like structure complement the mineral nature of this unique Southern Margaret River vineyard near the Indian Ocean.”
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front "Far out. How good are McHenry Hohnen wines getting? And quite diverse in their feel compared to most from the region. Stellar. Lots of battonage, lots of lees, “I’m just obsessed with flavour” says winemaker Julian Grounds. Righteous. So much to like here. A quietly powerful, detailed chardonnay that shows with citrus, green apple, lashings of ‘mineral’, faint toast and whiffs of peanut/cashew. The palate follows a similar route, powerful in flavour but not stretching the palate with oomph, instead, precise, tight, true and long. Scintillating stuff here." (2017 Vintage)
Nick Butler, The Real Review "An attractive mix of white stone fruits, citrus rind and classy oak. It's creamy on the front palate, which dives into a tart lemon and lime acidity. Bright, fresh and balanced; it's a lovely wine, though lacking the core and fruit weight of warmer ripening seasons." (2017 Vintage)
Nick Stock, James Suckling "Quite savory and elegant chardonnay with aromas of fresh pastry and dry stones, as well as white melon and light peach. The palate has sleek, elegantly cut style with melon and peach here, too, Very crisp, long and elegant. Drink or hold. Screw cap." (2017 Vintage)
Gary Walsh, The Wine Front "White peach, mint nougat, subtle spice, stones and struck match. Medium bodied, cool and flinty, beautiful fine acidity, citrus and a suggestion of lemon curd, with a tight long lemon-laced finish. Great bone structure here, and a fine and exciting wine to drink." (2016 Vintage)
Nick Ryan, The Australian "The coolest of the three sites, feeling the force of the ocean breezes and planted on coastal sand. It shows. The wine is lean, tight and linear, smells of sea spray and the pith of preserved lemons, and hums with a fine, flinty acidity. For now, my pick of the three." (2016 Vintage)
Peter Forrestal, Decanter "Sourced from an estate vineyard in the region's cool south near Witchcliffe, this has restrained power and tightly coiled grapefruit and citrus flavours, before a mouth-puckering finish that lingers." (2015 Vintage)
Ray Jordan, The West Australian Wine Guide 2017 "Another superb wine from this vineyard which always seems to to produce wines of such delicate finesse and fineness. This is right on the money but still with an intensity and persistence that stamps the chardonnay style. The best yet from this vineyard." (2015 Vintage)
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front " We’ve all known that McHenry Hohnen has been a bit of a secret weapon for terrific (chardonnay particularly) Margaret River wines, but with their shift to biodynamic farming and now a new winemaker in Julian Grounds, hold onto your hats. Grounds has done his time at Giant Steps with Steve Flamsteed, and has papal blessings from Flamsteed in this new role. Indeed, word on the street is, many, many people are thrilled for this move. A touch of high end Yarra hits Margs. Nice one. Grounds in his early days has already reached out to say gday, personally, unprompted it felt, which says something about determination and intent. Stay tuned.
Complex bouquet shows stone fruit, green apple, faint flint/struck match, whiff of grilled nuts, faint fern character. Pitch perfect delicate. More assertive to taste with a flood of green apple, savoury oatmeal and nuttiness, gentle cedar spice, cool acidity. Even flow, superb balance, elegance. It’s very, very good, seamless, supple chardonnay. Classic. " (2015 Vintage)
James Halliday "The Calgardup Brook Vineyard lies just inland from the coast, with well weathered sandy, schisty soils; hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed to French oak (20% new), wild-fermented, no mlf, aged on lees. Lemon meringue is a great call for the bouquet, some spice also in the action; elegant white peach flavours give way to bouncy grapefruit zest on the well balanced and long finish." (2014 Vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Light, bright yellow hue and a lifted ethyl acetate aroma, the volatility confirmed by the palate. It has issues. Most drinkers would not identify them, but the VA (volatile acidity) did inhibit the flavour and aroma. Extraordinarily, though, the longer this wine was exposed to the air, the better it tasted. Food (Comte cheese) also helped tame the beast. It soon became delicious. Very dry, nicely concentrated flavour and acidity, layers of complex aromas and flavours, good oak and 'worked' lees characters. A very good wine indeed. Wild ferment VA is forgiven." (2014 Vintage)
James Halliday "Whole bunch-pressed, wild yeast-fermented, matured in French barriques (20% new) with lees contact. Is very focused and tight, its flavours wound up in a ball of fruit, with generic white stone fruit and melon lurking in the shadows." (2013 Vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Medium to full straw-yellow hue. The bouquet is toasty and lightly smoky, attractive and quite complex, with richness and concentration, depth and weight. Indeed, it's an opulent style, full-bodied and generously proportioned. The finish is very long and resonant, partly due to the heat from apparently high alcohol. (it certainly seems higher than the stated 13.5%) This needs food and would cope with strongly flavoured white meat dishes." (2013 Vintage)
James Halliday Wine Companion 2014 "This has the lightest colour of the three, here the soils, just inland from the coast, are sandy and schisty, and well weathered; it is the most intense and elegant, with white stone fruit and grapefruit at its core." (2012 Vintage)
James Halliday Wine Companion 2012 "Bright straw-green; the faintly funky bouquet is complex, an appropriate introduction for a palate with layers of flavour of white peach and fig/cashew ex partial mlf, before glorious grapefruit acidity takes over and drives the wine through to its lingering, pure finish." (2009 Vintage)
McHenry Hohnen was founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focuses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location, which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes. Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak. Bolder, richer, full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays are made using oak and are produced in California, Burgundy, and Australia. Unoaked chardonnays such as Chablis and those produced in Chile, New Zealand, and other parts of France are leaner and often crisp and mineraly, with delicate flavors. By law, if a label says “Chablis,” it must be Chardonnay.
2 x McHenry Hohnen Calgardup Brook Vineyard Chardonnay (Organic) 2018 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
95/100 Campbell Mattinson 91/100 Decanter World Wine Awards 97/100 - Top Chardonnay Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023 (2020 vintage) 95/100 The Wine Front (2017 vintage) 93/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage) 94/100 The Wine Front (2016 vintage) 94/11 Decanter World Wine Awards (2015 vintage) 97/100 The Real Review (2015 vintage) 96/100 The West Australian Wine Guide 2017 (2015 vintage) 95/100 James Halliday Wine Companion 2017 (2014 vintage) 93/100 The Real Review (2014 vintage)
Bronze - Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2019 Bronze - 2019 Langton's Margaret River Wine Show Silver - Wine Show of Western Australia 2019
5-star Winery – Halliday Wine Companion
Halliday's Wine Companion Awards 2023 - Top Wineries of 2022 & 2023
Organic
Campbell Mattinson “Elegant power is a good way to describe it. It's flinty but not too much so, fleshed with stone fruit, touched up with meal and green apple, and intricately complex to close. All the while sweet fruit flows. It's an easy wine to get excited over.”
Decanter “Soft and creamy, with intense lemon curd augmenting baking spice, green pineapple and mango skin. Packed and phenolic, with freshness and length.”
The Winemaker “The nose opens with notes of oyster shell, frangipani and sea spray with delicate nashi pear pulp and nectarine. Wild fermentation with full solids provides flinty complexity and extended time on lees adds intrigue and excellent length to the palate. A distinctive saline acidity and attractive chalk-like structure complement the mineral nature of this unique Southern Margaret River vineyard near the Indian Ocean.”
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "Fruit from the Calgardup Brook vineyard (planted 1997) on coastal limestone loam. All single-vineyard chardonnays are made in the same way here, highlighting the differences in terroir: Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, full solids, wild ferment in barrel (25% new) and 4 months' maturation, partial mlf, fortnightly bâtonnage. Where the Burnside is granitic, mineral and fine, this is pithy, saline and expansive, with layers of cheesecloth and lanolin amongst the ripe stone fruit. More volume and density of flavour than the Burnside (neither here nor there qualitatively, simply an observation), this is sensational. Utterly." (2020 vintage)
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front "Far out. How good are McHenry Hohnen wines getting? And quite diverse in their feel compared to most from the region. Stellar. Lots of battonage, lots of lees, “I’m just obsessed with flavour” says winemaker Julian Grounds. Righteous. So much to like here. A quietly powerful, detailed chardonnay that shows with citrus, green apple, lashings of ‘mineral’, faint toast and whiffs of peanut/cashew. The palate follows a similar route, powerful in flavour but not stretching the palate with oomph, instead, precise, tight, true and long. Scintillating stuff here." (2017 Vintage)
Nick Butler, The Real Review "An attractive mix of white stone fruits, citrus rind and classy oak. It's creamy on the front palate, which dives into a tart lemon and lime acidity. Bright, fresh and balanced; it's a lovely wine, though lacking the core and fruit weight of warmer ripening seasons." (2017 Vintage)
Nick Stock, James Suckling "Quite savory and elegant chardonnay with aromas of fresh pastry and dry stones, as well as white melon and light peach. The palate has sleek, elegantly cut style with melon and peach here, too, Very crisp, long and elegant. Drink or hold. Screw cap." (2017 Vintage)
Gary Walsh, The Wine Front "White peach, mint nougat, subtle spice, stones and struck match. Medium bodied, cool and flinty, beautiful fine acidity, citrus and a suggestion of lemon curd, with a tight long lemon-laced finish. Great bone structure here, and a fine and exciting wine to drink." (2016 Vintage)
Nick Ryan, The Australian "The coolest of the three sites, feeling the force of the ocean breezes and planted on coastal sand. It shows. The wine is lean, tight and linear, smells of sea spray and the pith of preserved lemons, and hums with a fine, flinty acidity. For now, my pick of the three." (2016 Vintage)
Peter Forrestal, Decanter "Sourced from an estate vineyard in the region's cool south near Witchcliffe, this has restrained power and tightly coiled grapefruit and citrus flavours, before a mouth-puckering finish that lingers." (2015 Vintage)
Ray Jordan, The West Australian Wine Guide 2017 "Another superb wine from this vineyard which always seems to to produce wines of such delicate finesse and fineness. This is right on the money but still with an intensity and persistence that stamps the chardonnay style. The best yet from this vineyard." (2015 Vintage)
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front " We’ve all known that McHenry Hohnen has been a bit of a secret weapon for terrific (chardonnay particularly) Margaret River wines, but with their shift to biodynamic farming and now a new winemaker in Julian Grounds, hold onto your hats. Grounds has done his time at Giant Steps with Steve Flamsteed, and has papal blessings from Flamsteed in this new role. Indeed, word on the street is, many, many people are thrilled for this move. A touch of high end Yarra hits Margs. Nice one. Grounds in his early days has already reached out to say gday, personally, unprompted it felt, which says something about determination and intent. Stay tuned.
Complex bouquet shows stone fruit, green apple, faint flint/struck match, whiff of grilled nuts, faint fern character. Pitch perfect delicate. More assertive to taste with a flood of green apple, savoury oatmeal and nuttiness, gentle cedar spice, cool acidity. Even flow, superb balance, elegance. It’s very, very good, seamless, supple chardonnay. Classic. " (2015 Vintage)
James Halliday "The Calgardup Brook Vineyard lies just inland from the coast, with well weathered sandy, schisty soils; hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed to French oak (20% new), wild-fermented, no mlf, aged on lees. Lemon meringue is a great call for the bouquet, some spice also in the action; elegant white peach flavours give way to bouncy grapefruit zest on the well balanced and long finish." (2014 Vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Light, bright yellow hue and a lifted ethyl acetate aroma, the volatility confirmed by the palate. It has issues. Most drinkers would not identify them, but the VA (volatile acidity) did inhibit the flavour and aroma. Extraordinarily, though, the longer this wine was exposed to the air, the better it tasted. Food (Comte cheese) also helped tame the beast. It soon became delicious. Very dry, nicely concentrated flavour and acidity, layers of complex aromas and flavours, good oak and 'worked' lees characters. A very good wine indeed. Wild ferment VA is forgiven." (2014 Vintage)
James Halliday "Whole bunch-pressed, wild yeast-fermented, matured in French barriques (20% new) with lees contact. Is very focused and tight, its flavours wound up in a ball of fruit, with generic white stone fruit and melon lurking in the shadows." (2013 Vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Medium to full straw-yellow hue. The bouquet is toasty and lightly smoky, attractive and quite complex, with richness and concentration, depth and weight. Indeed, it's an opulent style, full-bodied and generously proportioned. The finish is very long and resonant, partly due to the heat from apparently high alcohol. (it certainly seems higher than the stated 13.5%) This needs food and would cope with strongly flavoured white meat dishes." (2013 Vintage)
James Halliday Wine Companion 2014 "This has the lightest colour of the three, here the soils, just inland from the coast, are sandy and schisty, and well weathered; it is the most intense and elegant, with white stone fruit and grapefruit at its core." (2012 Vintage)
James Halliday Wine Companion 2012 "Bright straw-green; the faintly funky bouquet is complex, an appropriate introduction for a palate with layers of flavour of white peach and fig/cashew ex partial mlf, before glorious grapefruit acidity takes over and drives the wine through to its lingering, pure finish." (2009 Vintage)
McHenry Hohnen was founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focuses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.
Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.
Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location, which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes. Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak. Bolder, richer, full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays are made using oak and are produced in California, Burgundy, and Australia. Unoaked chardonnays such as Chablis and those produced in Chile, New Zealand, and other parts of France are leaner and often crisp and mineraly, with delicate flavors. By law, if a label says “Chablis,” it must be Chardonnay.
