Henty Estate Chardonnay 2015

 Henty Estate is a small family owned vineyard located 6 kilometres north of Hamilton in the Henty wine region of Victoria. The wines are made using traditional methods, including open fermenting, basket pressing and maturation in quality French oak. Yields are limited to 3–4 tonnes per hectare.

"Given the cost of growing the grapes and the French oak, and the quality of the wine, the price borders on the unbelievable. It is classic ultra-cool-grown style, pink grapefruit the key."  James Halliday

Expert reviews

"A miniscule yield of 1t/ha, hand-picked, fermented in stainless steel to 4° baume, then transferred to French oak (Vosges) to complete fermentation and 6 months maturation, no mlf. Given the cost of growing the grapes and the French oak, and the quality of the wine, the price borders on the unbelievable. It is classic ultra-cool-grown style, pink grapefruit the key. Drink by: 2025."  James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 95 points and Special Value Wine ★ 

Awards

Special Value Wine – Halliday Wine Companion  ★ 

About the winery

The 8 hectare vineyard is located 6 kilometres north of Hamilton in the Henty wine region of Victoria. The wines are grown, made and bottled entirely on the estate. The vineyard is dry grown on older volcanic soils and the wines are made using traditional methods, including open fermenting, basket pressing and maturation in quality French oak. Yields are limited to 3–4 tonnes per hectare.

Henty Estate was established in 1991 by Peter and Gleyns Dixon who were strong in their conviction that great wines are made in the vineyard. They began by planting 4.5ha of shiraz, 1ha each of cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, and 0.5ha of riesling. They established the winery in 2003 and in their words "We avoided the temptation to make wine until the vineyard was mature."

The climate is characterised by cold, wet winters and warm, dry summers followed by a long cool autumn ripening period. Grapes ripen later here than in many other wine regions, resulting in superb intense varietal flavours.

Michael Hilsdon and Matilda McGoon purchased Henty Estate from the Dixon's in 2018. They hold true to the same ideals of no compromise on quality in the vineyard and the winemaking.