Oakey Creek Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

Just the third release of a Chardonnay from this vineyard, famous as one of the great Semillon vineyards in the Hunter Valley. It was purchased from the Drayton family in 2021 – Chardonnay comprises a small 2.68 hectare parcel of vines, out of the 40 hectare property. Whole bunched pressed to French oak barrels for a wild yeast ferment. Maturation included 20% new oak. A few outliers aside, one rarely thinks of the Hunter for great Chardonnay. If the team maintains the standards they have set here, expect that to change. A deep straw hue, there is depth and concentration here, with real underlying power. One might expect Hunter Chardonnay to take a walk down the tropical path, but here we have notes of stone fruits and lemon curd which come to the fore, while the palate reveals appealing oatmeal characters. A wine of superb balance, a slippery texture and great length, there is serious intensity here. This is a cracking Chardonnay, a ten year proposition.