94 Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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.