2020 Hoddles Creek Estate 1er Chardonnay

Hoddles Creek was established by the D’Anna family in 1997 when they planted a vineyard on the family’s property. The estate has since become synonymous with producing some the best value examples of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay in Australia. The Premier (1er) Yarra Valley range features a Burgundian-looking label to signify wines made from the property’s best blocks for each varietal.

Fruit for this wine comes from the top block, where the vines work a bit harder in the poorer soil, meaning that they naturally manage a balanced crop level. In the winery the grapes are handled very gently to retain the finesse of the exceptionally farmed Chardonnay. The fruit is gently destemmed (but not crushed) before pressing to tank to settle naturally for 7 days. After fermentation the wine matures for twelve months in cask with occasional battonage, and is not filtered, fined or stabilized before bottling.

Other Reviews....
Chardonnay yields were 65% down on the average. That’s some hit.
Again it’s the extra burst of flavour through the finish; it sets it apart. This has taken on a fair amount of oak and it shows but both the quality of the fruit and its character mean that it’s no concern at all. This really does have the quartz meter jumping. Fleshy white peach and citrus with flashes of grapefruit and cedar. The way it kicks up a gear on the finish is quite something. It’s a beautiful chardonnay, hands down. Drink 2022 - 2028+
95 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front (September 2021)