Eden Valley Chardonnay

Enjoy with mustard and white wine braised chicken with a side of steamed greens.

A drier than average winter in 2012 led to early budburst in the Eden Valley. Post veraison growing season conditions were, for the most part, dry and warm, with rainfall for the season below average. Although summer temperatures were slightly above average there were few extremes. This, combined with lower than average crops and the absence of any rain, led to a smooth, uninterrupted vintage. The resultant wines show good varietal character with slightly fuller palate weight than usual.

Around 60% of the blend was fermented and matured in new and 1-2 year old fine grained French barrqiues to add weight and texture, with the balance of the wine fermented in stainless steel to retain fruit freshness and vibrancy in the final blend.

The finer flavours produced by these clones, in combination with the use of wild yeast fermentation, produce a more complex and elegant wine with rich creamy flavour and tangy acidity. Palate structure and texture is further enhanced through extended lees contact and regular lees stirring after completion of fermentation.

Over five generations members of the Hill-Smith family have been pioneers in locating exceptional vineyard sites that maximise the personality of their wines. Since the wine was released in 1980 Hill-Smith Estate Sauvignon Blanc has been recognized as one of Australia’s finest Sauvignon Blancs. Our Chardonnays from the Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley are contemporary wines crafted from fruit cultivated in premium Chardonnay growing regions. These wines honour the contribution that Wyndham Hill-Smith OBE (1909 - 1989) made to wine sport and life in Australia. A talented amateur artist Wyndham painted the front label landscape scenes on all three wines. Well known as a cricketer Wyndham Hill-Smith both shared the crease with Bradman and faced Larwood at his peak. He was a keen thoroughbred owner with more than 500 race wins and well recognised as a generous host and charming raconteur. Importantly Wyndham oversaw in the 1960s and ’70s the innovative return of viticulture from the floor of the Barossa Valley to the cooler climes of the high altitude Barossa ranges known as Eden Valley. In these conditions finesse elegance and understated power replace the robust and earthy style of the lower altitudes.