2024 Burnside Vineyard Chardonnay

Expressive and finely detailed, the 2024 Burnside Chardonnay opens with aromas of white nectarine, pink grapefruit pith and roasted almond, layered with subtle nougat and flinty complexity.

. The palate is generous and textured a hallmark of the vineyard, yet remains focused and precise. Extended time on fine lees builds savoury depth through the mid-palate, balanced by a fine line of natural acidity that provides structure, energy and a long, saline finish. This vintage captures the inherent power and clarity of the Burnside site with freshness and restraint.

Vineyard: 100% Burnside Vineyard. Located on the bend of the Margaret River, this old heritage vineyard is planted on unique micaceous and granitic soils. Chardonnay vines are grown on a steep, northerly aspect running northwest to southeast, contributing to the vineyard’s distinctive power, structure and site expression.

Vintage 2024 will be remembered as the earliest start of harvest at McHenry Hohnen. After good rainfalls during winter, our vines reacted to the excellent moisture levels in the ground and the warm spring conditions by developing healthy canopies earlier in the season. Summer was characterised by zero rainfalls and above-average diurnal temperatures. Veraison was anticipated across the different sites in 2–3 weeks. The Marri blossom was incredible in 2024, and with birds totally uninterested in our crops and no disease pressure, we were able to harvest pristine fruit. We experienced a very compressed white harvest, which kept our winery and vineyard teams extremely busy. The whites show expressive fruit profiles, with texture and generosity without compromising on freshness. Yields on the red varietals were lower than expected. However, the warm and dry weather created desirable conditions for our reds that showcase good structure, concentration, and vibrancy.

Hand-picked from selected parcels, whole bunch pressed and transferred directly to oak with full solids. Fermented by native yeast in a selection of fine French oak barriques (approximately 30% new). Batonnage was guided by flavour to build texture and complexity. No malolactic fermentation was undertaken to retain the natural acidity and line of the vintage. Note that the wine was racked from barrel to tank prior to bottling.