2022 Winmark Icon 72 Chardonnay, Hunter Valley

The combination of 50-year-old vines, meticulous viticulture, and an owner laser-focused on producing the best wine possible from her vines has resulted in a mighty fine chardonnay. The wine is multilayered with complex sulfides expressing themselves as gunflint and roasted hazelnuts, adding interest to the defined lemon flavours. The wine benefits from a lot of air to open the fruit and balance the artefact. It finishes with a savoury, restrained sophistication, allowing it to be savoured and enjoyed over many hours.

96 points Toni Paterson MW winecompanion.com.au

Mid gold in colour. The complex aromas of roasted nuts, stone fruit and barbequed citrus, with hints of poached pear, flow seamlessly onto the palate. Rich, textural and seductive, this silky wine has hints of key lime pie with perfectly balanced toasty oak conjuring warm sourdough and grilled hazelnuts, which linger long past the last sip. Designed to last, if you have the patience, this wine will benefit from careful cellaring for up to 10 years. 

Recently named 2023 Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year, rated a 5 Star Winery and shortlisted for ‘Best New Winery’ by the acclaimed James Halliday Wine Companion 2024, Winmark is a premium Chardonnay producer.

This homage to Winmark’s rich viticultural history, celebrates the first Penfolds clone 58 Chardonnay vines planted in Block 4 in 1972. This wine is made exclusively from these very same vines that are tended with the honour and respect that they deserve. The first vintage of this small batch wine was released to embrace the 50th anniversary of these vines in 2022 and will only be released in exceptional years. 

Winmark Icon 72 Chardonnay from the Hunter Valley is a luxurious and meticulously crafted wine, showcasing the elegance and complexity for which this renowned wine region is celebrated. Winmark, located in the picturesque Broke Fordwich subregion, is an estate steeped in history. Originally known as Pooles Rock, the vineyard was first planted in the 1970s and gained a reputation for producing premium Hunter Valley Chardonnay. In 2016, entrepreneur and passionate wine lover Karin Adcock revitalized the property, restoring it to its former glory under the Winmark name, with a strong focus on sustainability and quality winemaking.

Icon 72 Chardonnay is named in tribute to the estate’s foundation in 1972. Winemaker John Belsham, a highly regarded figure in both New Zealand and Australian winemaking circles, lends his expertise in cool-climate and Chardonnay production. His minimalist approach ensures the wine reflects the vineyard’s unique terroir, allowing the fruit’s natural complexity to shine.

Golden straw in color, this wine bursts with aromas of ripe peach, nectarine, and citrus blossom, accompanied by hints of roasted hazelnut, brioche, and flinty minerality. The palate is rich and beautifully textured, with layers of stone fruit, lemon curd, and vanilla seamlessly integrated with well-judged oak influence. A creamy mouthfeel is balanced by fresh acidity and a long, elegant finish, leaving lingering notes of toasty almond and subtle spice.

This Chardonnay is a perfect match for roast chicken, pan-seared scallops, and creamy pasta dishes. Its richness and acidity also make it an excellent companion for truffle risotto, grilled lobster, or soft cheeses like Camembert and triple-cream Brie. While stunning now, Icon 72 has the potential to age for 8–10 years, developing further depth and complexity over time.

Winmark Estate’s revival under Karin Adcock’s stewardship has breathed new life into one of the Hunter Valley’s most historic Chardonnay vineyards, earning critical acclaim and solidifying its reputation as a producer of exceptional wines.