A refined and expressive Chardonnay from South Africa's Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the 2022 vintage displays vibrant lemon, peach yogurt, and floral notes layered with subtle spice and citrus. Aged nine months in French oak (23% new), it offers a mineral-driven palate with pear, lime, and apple, balanced by bright natural acidity and a dry, textured finish. Elegant and age-worthy, this wine is a benchmark for cool-climate New World Chardonnay. Vegan friendly and sustainably produced.

Decanter | D 95
Published: Jan 18, 2024
Drink: 2025-2032

Subtle at first on the nose and palate, this builds with floral aromas and a hint of spice, together with succulent white peach and pear fruit on the palate. Oak is supple and beautifully integrated. Deceptively powerful, there is a mineral, almost steely, edge which will give this a long future. 100% barrel-fermentation in François Frères oak, 23% new wood, 5% malolactic conversion. Another fine wine from Emul Ross, and a classic example of Chardonnay from the Lower Valley.
Closure: Natural Cork
Alcohol: 13.50%
Body: Medium
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

The Wine Advocate | RP 94
Published: Dec 29, 2023
Drink: 2023-2035

Opening to a nose of bright lemon and peach yogurt with hints of banana, the 2022 Chardonnay is fresh and citrus-laden. Medium-bodied and with 13.2% alcohol, the palate is fresh, balanced and spicy with succulent apple essence before swinging to show an elegant floral notion that finishes fresh and complex. This Chardonnay was barrel fermented and aged in 23% new French oak. Give it a try! Just under 70,000 bottles were filled.

Hamiltonrussellvineyards.com

A tight, mineral wine with classic Hamilton Russell Vineyards length and complexity. Prominent pear and lime fruit aromas and flavours are brought beautifully into focus by a tight line of bright natural acid and a long, dry minerality. An elegant, yet textured and intense wine with a strong personality of both place and vintage.

Soil: Low-vigour, stony, clay-rich, shale-derived soil
Alcohol: 12.90% Acid: 6.90 g/l pH: 3.45 Residual Sugar: 2.20 g/l
Barrel Ageing: 9 Months
Wooding: 100% 228 liter French Oak Barrels Barrel Fermentation: 95% Foudre: 5% Tight Grain: 100%
1st fill: 24% 2nd fill: 23% 3rd fill: 36% 4th fill: 17%
Blonde Toast: 48% Medium Toast: 46% Medium Long Toast: 6%
French Coopers: Francois Freres 100%
Yield: 2.68 tons/ha, 16.9 hl/ha Production: 4293 cases of 12 bottles equivalent
Vegan Friendly