2022 Estate Barrel Fermented Chardonnay

Fresh fruit, creamy texture.

VARIETY The Australian Chardonnay story began in Mudgee, with local Alf Kurtz growing unidentified Chardonnay cuttings taken from James Busby’s original collection. In the early 1970s, wine from the Kurtz grapes was made and labelled as Australia’s first Chardonnay. Chardonnay goes in and out of fashion, but with multiple plantings on different soil types, altitude and orientation, dating back to the mid ‘70s, our love affair with the King of White Wines is enduring and true. Our Barrel Fermented Chardonnays just keep on getting better. 

WINEMAKING Fruit from Block 11, 16 and 17 was picked on 21/02 at 12.8 Bé, hand picked and whole bunch pressed. 15% went to wild ferment, and the wine was racked into seasoned French hogsheads. It sat on lees, stirred weekly for 3 months. Barrels were tasted and graded and the wine blended and bottled 20/9 at 13.7% alc/vol.

IN GLASS Pale lemon yellow.

IN NOSE Delicate, creamy. Butterscotch and hints of Madagascan vanilla. Green apple, a touch of stone fruit and papaya.

IN MOUTH Pleasing zing of fruit straight off the bat. Fresh, lovely melon and lemon curd, hints of tart green apple. Clean, bright acidity through the mid palate. Rounded and beautifully balanced. Complex. Long but smooth finish, lingering and beautiful softness to the oak characters. Serve nice and chilled.

CELLAR 2031+ These wines begin to hit their best at around 3 years from vintage. The natural acidity and level of fruit suggest this example has a long life ahead of it. 

ACCLAIM

94/100 "For those who enjoy a Chardonnay with some flesh, this is a dream boat. It's a fabulous release from Huntington Estate. Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed with only free run juice used, 15% saw wild yeast fermentation with three months in French oak. Long and fabulously rounded, there is plenty of give. It's not heavy-handed by any stretch, but handled with judicious precision. Highlighted by lemon meringue, grilled pineapple, lemon zest and white fleshed nectarines, chiselled yellow fleshed grapefruit cuts through late. A fine creaminess and vanilla slice textured presence adds further detail and class to a fabulous drink. Great stuff and then some for $35! Drink to eight years." QWINE 2024

"Hand picked grapes and barrel fermented with wild yeast, it delivers an upfront blast of fennel and mixed herbs. Once the wild yeast wafts abated, aromas & flavours of primary fruit characters of melon & citrus emerged. The 13.77% Alc component contributes to palate roundness. The underlying forest floor funkiness and jubey acid make it a good food-friendly wine..." GILBERT LABOUR 2024

"In the 'chardonnaymay' tastings, the Huntington Estate Wines 2022 Mudgee Region Barrel Fermented Chardonnay really stands out as BRILLIANT - Deep, complex stone fruit bouquet with a dash of vanillin oak. magnificent palate, busting with rich, creamy flavours, great depth & a swish, refreshing finish. A SHEER JOY TO BEHOLD!!!" DAN TRAUCKI 2024