The Stockhausen Chardonnay was created by Briar Ridge in a style paying homage to the pioneers of the Hunter Valley around 40 years ago. It is rich and creamy with ripe peach and tropical notes.

McHenry Hohnen was founded in 2004 by pioneering Margaret River winemaker (Cape Mentelle) and third-generation farmer David Hohnen and his brother-in-law, grape-grower and wine retailer Murray McHenry. With an ethos of quality over quantity, we create small lots of expressive, authentic, fine wines, says Hohnen. Three vineyards, in the central-southern part of Margaret River, are farmed organically and/or biodynamically. Laterite Hills Chardonnay is a blend of material from these family-owned and farmed vineyards -- Burnside, Calgardup and Hazels. The wine takes its name from the generally lateritic soils of Margaret River south and is made in the same way as the three single-vineyard Chardonnays. Fruit is hand picked and whole bunch pressed, before undergoing wild yeast fermentation and six months maturation in French oak barriques (20% new). The wine is then transferred to tank for a further three months maturation on lees. It is clarified but not filtered before bottling.

The grapes for this wine come from the Belford vineyard owned by the Elliott family, situated 15km north/north-west of the Tyrrells winery. The grapes were handpicked then lightly crushed before a relatively cool fermentation in stainless steel. After a short period on gross lees, the wine was racked and left to mature in stainless steel until bottling. The last of the semillon picked, this wine has a fuller palate commonly associated with the Belford vineyard, with great fruit intensity and a slightly higher acid intensity than normal years due to the cooler growing conditions.

A portion of the wine was fermented with indigenous wild strains of yeast and this was blended with traditional barrel fermented and lees-stirred components. The result is a multi-layered wine in the traditional opulent Bunnamagoo style.

Lifted nose of citrus and nectarine with slight hints of hazelnut. Classic nectarine & citrus carry onto the palate with bright fruit intensity balanced by natural acidity and length. Delicate hints of lifted hazelnut notes are delivered by 9 months in puncheons & barriques; this is a fine & elegantly structured Chardonnay.

A very appealing yellow/green tinted colour. Tropical aromas with plenty of primary fruit as a young wine. Minimal oak influence, of which adds a slight bran meal note. More tropical fruit on the palate, balanced by bright zesty acidity. An excellent and flavoursome Chardonnay.