2025 McHenry Hohnen Laterite Hills Chardonnay

On the nose, delicate notes of kaffir lime, orange blossom, and white nectarine leap from the glass, complemented by complex, wild-ferment elements of struck match and nougat.

The palate is powerful yet crystalline and defined by a mealy texture, chalky phenolics and that long, savoury acid line Southern Margaret River is renowned for.

Vineyard: Made with grapes from the Calgardup Brook, Hazel’s, Burnside, Chapman Grove and Challis vineyards. Flinty and complex, this wine is a charming expression of Southern Margaret River Chardonnay.

The 2025 vintage was about balance and consistency. Summer was warm and dry but breezy and without extremes, providing good conditions for even vine growth and flavour development. Disease pressure was low, contributing to excellent fruit conditions at harvest. All whites are characterised by expressive fruit, texture, and balanced acidity. Leading into red harvest conditions remained ideal, with consistently warm and dry days and cool nights. The Mediterranean reds and Bordeaux varieties were picked in pristine conditions and display a “classic” character, with floral aromatics, tannin ripeness and concentration.

Farmed with the same philosophy and made in the same way as our flagship Chardonnay range. All fruit was hand-picked and whole-bunch-pressed before undergoing wild yeast fermentation with full solids in French oak barriques and puncheons (25% new). Barrels were sulphured shortly after primary fermentation was completed, with no malo-lactic fermentation to retain natural acidity. Laterite Hills Chardonnay was matured for 10 months in barrels before being bottled in January 2026.