2023 McHenry Hohnen Hazel's Vineyard Chardonnay, Margaret River

The vineyard stamps its character on this from the get-go. Notes of lemon scents with lightly roasted cashew and faint struck match. The palate is intense and with a fine acidity and minerally character defining it through its linear range. Beautifully integrated and tightly coiled before releasing through to a sustained finish. A wine that will really show its true worth in another few years.

98 points rayjordanwine.com.au

Gee this is good. It’s complete and balanced, offering pleasure at every sip, all thanks to the combo of flavours. Citrus and stone fruit, flinty and flirty. Lovely oak spices infuse the wine, nutty lees bolstering the palate. It’s savoury and citrusy with saline-like lemony acidity, so it’s ultra-refreshing and cleansing.

95 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

McHenry Hohnen Hazel’s Vineyard Chardonnay from Margaret River is a stunning single-vineyard wine that speaks with both clarity and complexity—an exceptional example of how Margaret River continues to rival the world’s best Chardonnay regions. Grown just a few kilometres from the Indian Ocean, Hazel’s Vineyard produces fruit with pristine acidity, layered fruit character, and a distinctive saline edge that reflects the region’s coastal terroir.

McHenry Hohnen was founded by viticulturist Murray McHenry and acclaimed winemaker David Hohnen (of Cape Mentelle and Cloudy Bay fame), with a focus on sustainable farming, minimal intervention, and single-site expression. Hazel’s Vineyard, located in the southern part of Margaret River near Witchcliffe, is certified biodynamic, and this commitment to soil health and ecosystem balance translates directly into the vibrancy and energy of the wine.

Handpicked and whole-bunch pressed, the Chardonnay undergoes wild fermentation in French oak barrels (a portion new), followed by extended lees contact and partial malolactic fermentation. The result is a wine of texture, tension, and elegance—where precision and depth walk hand in hand.

In the glass, expect lifted aromas of white peach, citrus curd, sea spray, and struck flint. The palate is taut and structured, with layers of stone fruit, lemon zest, roasted nuts, and subtle brioche complexity from the lees. There’s a mouthwatering acid line that carries everything through to a long, mineral finish with that unmistakable Margaret River salinity.

Hazel’s Vineyard Chardonnay is one for the purists—refined, age-worthy, and a true reflection of place, pedigree, and detail-driven winemaking.