Hamilton Russell 2023/2024 Chardonnay 750ml

The Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2023 Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Chardonnay is made with pressed whole clusters. The juice is settled overnight and starts a wild ferment (to dryness) in barrel. It matures in oak for 10 months, with minimum stirring of the lees. This vintage saw 30% malolactic fermentation. Secondary fermentation is vintage specific, and some years it doesn't happen at all. This mineral-driven Chardonnay offers a drying signature of crushed oyster shell that folds softly into tropical fruits and pineapple. The mouthfeel is brimming with tension and energy. Acidity and minerality make this a distinctively marine Chardonnay.

Score: 94 Points -- Moncia Larner, The Wine Advocate, 2025

The Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2024 Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Chardonnay shows a pretty combination of orchard fruit and subtle tropical notes underscored by a clear line of salinity that carries through an energetic, mid-weight texture. The wine is 100% barrel-aged in a mix of new and neutral François Frères oak, a regimen that adds quiet structure without obscuring detail. Sourced from low-yielding vines rooted in Bokkeveld shale, the maritime influence of the nearby South Atlantic contributes a taut mineral edge and natural freshness to the finish.

Score: 94 points -- Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate, 2026