Harvest timing closely tracked 2021, 2022 and the estate's long-term average. Chardonnay had uneven bud-break and one of the lowest yields in ten years due to reduced winter cold units, which meant careful triage was needed, generally three passes per vineyard to select only sound fruit. Roughly 40% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation, a partial rather than full malo. This preserves brighter natural acidity while still softening and rounding part of the blend, a deliberate balance given how acid-driven the 2023 vintage wa

The wine is fermented and aged for about 9–10 months in 300-liter French oak barrels (24% new, Francois Freres). It undergoes a partial malolactic fermentation to soften the edges and add a creamy texture without masking its fresh, fruity character

Wooding: 300 litre French Oak Barrels - 1st fill: 24%, 2nd fill: 32%, 3rd fill: 24%, Older Oak: 20%

Tasting Notes: Crisp green apple, fresh apricot, lime, and a gentle hint of flinty reduction with toasted brioche.A tight, mineral wine with classic Hamilton Russell Vineyards length and complexity. Prominent pear and lime fruit aromas and flavours are brought beautifully into focus by a tight line of bright natural acid and a long, dry minerality. An elegant, yet textured and intense wine with a strong personality of both place and vintage.

Food Pairing: Pair the elegant, mineral-driven wine with rich seafoods like pan-seared scallops in lemon-butter sauce, grilled prawns, or butter-basted salmon. Its crisp acidity and subtle oak creaminess also beautifully complement roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, and nutty cheeses like Gruyère or Chedda

Hamilton Russell's excellent Chardonnay has been a benchmark for as long as I can remember, a Cape calling card for the variety on international markets. This is typically intense, complex and layered, with notes of buttered croissant, stone fruit and honey, well-judged underlying freshness and acidity and stylishly handled 24% new wood. 95 Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2024

This has creamy citrus aromas, layered with pear, bright lime and nutty hints. Poised and precise palate; textured with generous silky ripeness to the citrus fruit. Already layered and complex, but with more to come, this is a beautiful Burgundian style, for a fraction of the price of Burgundy. 95 Julie Sheppard, Decanter, March 2024

ANALYSIS: ALC 13.22% | TA 6.3g/L | pH 3.45 | RS 2.1g/L