2024 Wickhams Road Chardonnay, Gippsland

Wickhams Road Chardonnay from Gippsland is a finely balanced and expressive cool climate Chardonnay, shaped by one of Victoria’s most consistent regions for elegant, acid driven white wines. Gippsland’s proximity to Bass Strait brings cooling maritime influences, high rainfall and long growing seasons, allowing Chardonnay to ripen slowly while retaining freshness and precision. The vineyards contributing to this wine are typically planted on well drained loam and clay soils, producing Chardonnay with purity, tension and understated power rather than overt richness.

Wickhams Road is the second label of Hoddles Creek Estate, and it benefits directly from the same disciplined, site focused approach that defines the estate wines. The Gippsland Chardonnay is made to showcase regional character in an approachable, food friendly style. Fruit is harvested early enough to preserve natural acidity, gently pressed and fermented with careful management of oak and lees to build texture without losing clarity. The emphasis is on balance, drinkability and regional expression rather than heaviness.

In the glass the wine shows a pale straw colour with green highlights. Aromas are fresh and layered, offering white peach, nectarine and citrus peel alongside subtle notes of melon, almond and a light flinty nuance. The palate is medium bodied and finely textured, delivering stone fruit and citrus flavours framed by lively acidity and a clean, mineral driven finish. It pairs beautifully with seafood, grilled fish, roast chicken and creamy vegetable dishes. While designed for early enjoyment, it also has the balance to develop over three to five years, gaining gentle nutty and savoury complexity as it matures.

Wickhams Road Chardonnay from Gippsland is a confident and well crafted Australian Chardonnay, offering freshness, texture and cool climate definition at excellent value.