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.