2023 Hazel's Vineyard Chardonnay

Flint rock, pink grapefruit, and subtle mealy notes lead into white nectarine, frangipani, and a seductive nougat element—layered and expressive.

Elegant yet concentrated, the palate shows ripe stone fruit and savoury detail, restrained by a precise acid line. The phenolics are chalky and defined, with impressive persistence and a true sense of place.

Vineyard: Certified biodynamic since 2021, Hazel’s Vineyard reflects our commitment to regenerative farming and the pursuit of purity through natural systems. Located near Witchcliffe, this southern Margaret River site is defined by ironstone gravel soils, a cooling maritime influence, and a unique energy in the glass. Farming without synthetic inputs and according to biodynamic principles has brought even greater vitality to the fruit, translating into wines with exceptional texture, vibrancy, and site expression.

2023 was a season of balance and elegance. A wet, cold winter transitioned into a cool, dry spring, allowing for even flowering and healthy yields. Summer was consistently warm and dry, with mild nights and no extreme heat events. High diurnal temperature variation supported slow, even ripening and excellent aromatic development. The result is a vintage defined by clarity, freshness, and site expression—particularly strong for white varieties like Chardonnay.

This Chardonnay was grown on a mid-slope section of Hazel’s Vineyard—an ironstone ridge with a favourable northern aspect in southern Margaret River. The small, concentrated bunches were hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, and transferred with full solids directly into French oak barriques (approximately 40% new). Indigenous yeast fermentation encouraged complexity and site expression. Lees stirring was conducted selectively based on flavour development, and no malolactic fermentation was carried out to preserve natural acidity. The wine was racked to tank in November and bottled in January 2024.