2024 Hughes + Hughes Lees Aged Chardonnay, Southern Tasmania

Hughes + Hughes Lees Aged Chardonnay from Southern Tasmania is a beautifully detailed and textural wine that captures the cool climate elegance and quiet power of Tasmania’s south. Created by brothers Jonny and Matt Hughes, who are renowned for their thoughtful, minimal-intervention approach, this Chardonnay highlights purity of fruit, subtle complexity from lees ageing, and the signature maritime freshness that defines Tasmania’s best white wines.

The fruit is sourced from select vineyards in Southern Tasmania, where the long, cool growing season allows grapes to ripen slowly, developing flavour while retaining bright natural acidity. The hand picked fruit is whole bunch pressed, fermented with wild yeasts, and matured in French oak barriques — mostly seasoned — with extended time on lees to enhance texture and savoury depth. No fining or filtration is used, ensuring the wine remains true to site and variety.

In the glass it shines pale gold with green highlights. The aroma is lifted and elegant, showing white peach, lemon curd and grapefruit zest with subtle notes of hazelnut, brioche and sea spray from the lees contact. On the palate it is finely structured and textural, combining citrus and stone fruit flavours with creamy mid-palate weight and a lingering mineral finish. The balance between freshness and richness makes it both sophisticated and effortlessly drinkable.

Hughes + Hughes Lees Aged Chardonnay pairs beautifully with roast chicken, grilled scallops, salmon, or mushroom risotto. It also works perfectly with creamy pasta and soft cheeses. While delicious now for its poise and texture, it will age gracefully for up to eight years, developing nutty, honeyed complexity over time.