The Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2024 Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Chardonnay shows a pretty combination of orchard fruit and subtle tropical notes underscored by a clear line of salinity that carries through an energetic, mid-weight texture. The wine is 100% barrel-aged in a mix of new and neutral François Frères oak, a regimen that adds quiet structure without obscuring detail. Sourced from low-yielding vines rooted in Bokkeveld shale, the maritime influence of the nearby South Atlantic contributes a taut mineral edge and natural freshness to the finish.
February 2026