2024 McHenry Hohnen Burnside Vineyard Chardonnay, Margaret River

There's something unique about Burnside, with its stamp of specialness. This is a complete wine. Daikon, grapefruit and pith, with lovely phenolics adding shape and pull towards the finish and a fine layer of lees adding a creamed honey/nutty flavour. Yet overall, it’s dictated by invigorating fine acidity. It has depth and detail; it’s moreish and savoury, pure and quite exhilarating.

97 points Special Value Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion

On the nose, this is classic Margaret River. Savoury hues of rock salt, curry leaf, lemon and mandarin pith, yellow nectarine, coriander seed, white blossom and a hint of cheesecloth without stepping into funky town territory. Palate is concentrated, complex and succulent, with layers of flavour steeping through the mouth. The fruit shines. A transfixing wine that continues to evolve in the glass. From a single site planted in 1982 with Gingin and UC Davis clones. Whole-bunch pressed, fermented with native yeast in French oak barriques, about 40% new, followed by 10 months of maturation; no malolactic fermentation.

97 points Cassandra Charlick, Decanter

From the northern reaches of Margaret River in Wilyabrup, McHenry Hohnen Burnside Vineyard Chardonnay captures a slightly warmer, more generous expression of the estate’s biodynamic philosophy. Founded by Murray McHenry and David Hohnen, the winery has become synonymous with thoughtful farming and wines that reflect site above all else. Burnside’s gravelly loam soils over clay and its protected position allow Chardonnay to achieve greater fruit weight while still retaining the freshness that defines the region.

A pale lemon gold with soft green reflections sits in the glass. Aromas unfold with ripe nectarine, yellow peach and lemon curd layered with cashew, subtle vanilla spice and a gentle flinty edge. There is a broader, more open knit feel here, yet still beautifully composed.

The palate is medium to full bodied and textural, delivering stone fruit and citrus flavours framed by balanced acidity and a fine mineral line. Notes of brioche, almond and a touch of creamy lees influence build through the mid palate, leading to a long, rounded finish that feels both generous and controlled. While already expressive and approachable, this Chardonnay will continue to evolve over eight to twelve years, gaining savoury depth and nutty complexity.

Buttered lobster rolls, roast chicken with tarragon and pan juices, or truffle fries passed around without much restraint. A record like Herbie Hancock Head Hunters or something smooth from Sade setting the tone, the wine bringing warmth, texture and an easy sense of luxury to the evening.