Louis Latour Agencies

London Wine Fair : Winemaker Focus McHenry Hohnen

16 May 2017

Stand B22

Southern Margaret River Chardonnay – 2014 vs 2012

Murray McHenry is joining us all the way from Margaret River to present a two vintage comparative tasting of McHenry Hohnen’s three single Chardonnays: Calgardup Brook, Burnside and Hazel’s Vineyards.

The 2012 season was marked by above average summer temperature and average rainfall. The warm conditions brought the harvest for both red and whites forward by two weeks. This coupled with the biggest bloom on Marri trees seen for three decades resulted in pristine fruit and no pressure from hungry birds. Mild temperatures throughout February and March ensured that fruit ripened with optimal flavour and colour. A classic vintage for Margaret River.

2014 was a stellar season. It was one of the wettest winters for some time followed by a warm, dry summer. This was punctuated by a wild spring storm that coincided with flowering and reduced yields of all white varieties. The main reason that this vintage stood out was the absence of a heatwave coupled with cool evenings during harvest. This gave great natural acidity and wines wonderfully ripe tannins and a fine, long and elegant structure.

 

Hazel’s Vineyard

Named after Murray McHenry and Sandra Hohnen’s mother, this vineyard was first developed in 1998 when Murray purchased on old farm to the south of Witchcliffe. He planted 40 hectares of vines on north facing slopes of ironstone gravels on a tributary of the Upper Chapman Brook.  The northern exposure and southerly cooling influences makes this a great site.

 

Burnside Vineyard

Burnside (pictured) was purchased in 1976 and at the time was a run-down farm on the sharpest bend of Margaret River. It is located close to the coast with views of the Indian Ocean. The name Burnside has its origins in Ireland where it means one who lives by a burn or stream. Eleven hectares have been planted on a number of aspects, as dictated by the contours of the rivers bend.

 

Calgardup Brook

Calgardup Brook Vineyard is home to 40 hectares of vines and was planted in 1995 in partnership with Brian Sierakowski. It grows on the southern banks of Calgardup Brook, just south of Witchcliffe and inland from the coast, on well-weathered sandy, schisty soils. The vines run east-west with a slightly sloping northern aspect. The brook is a westerly flowing stream and this opens the site up to sea breezes. This has a significant impact on the vineyard and on the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge as a whole which are the hills that connect the two Capes on the north and south of the region.

 

On tasting

Monday 10.00am – 3pm | Tuesday 2.30pm – 5.00pm | Wednesday 12.00pm – 2.30pm

Don’t forget to join us in the last half an hour of the day for a Frapin cocktail and a demonstration of how using dry or hot chais during maturation can impact cognac.