McHenry Hohnen Laterite Hills Chardonnay, Margaret River

Description

McHenry Hohnen Laterite Hills Chardonnay is a white wine made from grapes grown in the Margaret River wine-growing region of Australia. It is sourced from three different McHenry Hohnen owned vineyards.

The Hohnen and McHenry families had been growing grapes in Western Australia since the 1970s but it was until 2006 that David Hohnen joined his brother-in-law Murray McHenry to found McHenry Hohnen. They source grapes from family-owned vineyards sites around the southern part of the Margaret River wine-growing region. The Mediterranean climate of the Margaret River is perfectly suited to growing varieties associated with southern France and Spain as well reflecting the regions heritage with Bordeaux varieties. Common sense farming philosophies are employed, cultivating a system in which soil and its organisms, along with plants, insects and animals co-exist in a thriving equilibrium. Vineyard management embraces sustainable ‘old school’ practices following biodynamic principles.

The grapes for the McHenry Hohnen Laterite Hills Chardonnay are sourced from Calgardup Brook, Burnside and Hazel’s Vineyards (20%/45%/35% respectively). They all share the same laterite soils. Lateritic soils are some of the oldest soils on the planet. They encourage the vine roots to explore deep to find water and nutrients and be self-sufficient. The vineyards have an average age of 25 years old and are located at 100 metres above sea level. The soils are composed of Loamy gravels, Sand and Schist. The grapes are hand picked and, after harvest, are fermented in French oak barrels with wild yeasts. The wine then matured for 9 months in French oak barrels (20% new).