Hamilton Russell Vineyards Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 2024 750ml

Opening to a nose of bright lemon and peach yogurt with hints of banana, the 2022 Chardonnay is fresh and citrus-laden. Medium-bodied and with 13.2% alcohol, the palate is fresh, balanced and spicy with succulent apple essence before swinging to show an elegant floral notion that finishes fresh and complex. This Chardonnay was barrel fermented and aged in 23% new French oak. Give it a try! Just under 70,000 bottles were filled. (Anthony Mueller)

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.

The 2022 Chardonnay is matured nine months in 300-liter French oak barrels, 24% new. It has a backward nose demanding just a little coaxing from the glass, revealing tempting lemon thyme, hazelnut and subtly smoky aromas. The palate is taut and fresh with a lovely, slightly waxy texture. The oak is nicely integrated, quite linear and tensile in style, with ample weight toward the poised finish. This is a classy Chardonnay from Hamilton Russell. 13.3% alcohol. (Neal Martin)