McHenry Hohnen 2021 Rocky Road Chardonnay

Description

Tasting notes

The McHenry Hohnen 2021 Rocky Road chardonnay is bursting with nectarine, nashi pear and orange blossom flavours. The palate delivers a refreshing saline acidity, balanced by complex notes of brioche dough and roasted almonds. Barrel fermentation and extended time on fine lees give this wine depth and complexity without overshadowing its brightness and freshness.

Winemaker notes

For this Rocky Road Chardonnay, McHenry Hohnen Vinters harvest grapes from younger vines in cool hours of the morning, then press the whole berries and allow them to partially settle. 

Then they ferment the wine in large oak casks and 1-2 years old barriques using a combination of wild and cultured yeast. They let the wine stay on lees for 9 months to achieve texture and further complexity, while still retaining its brightness and freshness. 

Vintage report

The cooler, wet spring made the Chardonnay fruit set lower than usual, and above average rainfall meant extra effort to mitigate disease pressure. Warm and dry days rolled into summer with a couple of rain events in February and March requiring extra effort from McHenry Hohnen’s dedicated vineyard team in terms of canopy management and fruit selection at harvest.