If Margaret River was the place to buy Cab Sav from the 2007 vintage, then make a mental (or a very prominent written) note that it is the place to buy Chardonnay from the 2008 vintage. Most of the 'supers' are yet to be released, the Leeuwin’s, Voyager's, Brookland's and Howard Park's are a little way off but ex-Howard Park and now Hay Shed Hill boss has released a stunning reminder of his super-powers with the Hay Shed Hill Margaret River Chardonnay 2008. Not just that, but it is this year's lowest priced 96-points Halliday rated Chardonnay and proves that drinking at this level is not a rich man's sport.
If you are after a big, fat, cream-laden, wood dripping Chardonnay, this will not be your bag. This wine is about restraint and elegance. It is about white fleshy and stone fruit characters. Persistence and line through a long finish and some subtle acidity providing the texture. The wine does enjoy some barrel ferment but as with any premium Chardonnay, this does not dominate the wine. A further string to this wines bow is at 12.5& alcohol, it doesn’t leave you with the feeling that you have gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. Excellent stuff. Drink: Now - 2014; Quality: Excellent - BW; WineStar © August 2008
Only free run juice was used in making this wine. This component of the juice is the highest in quality with the most intense fruit expression and the lowest in undesirable phenolic skin characters. The juice was fermented and matured in French oak barriques for approximately 11 months. The wine displays fresh green tinges to a very pale straw colour. The wine exhibits fresh cut pear and honey dew melon aromas with some zesty citric notes. The palate is fresh and lively with clean crisp acidity complementing the vibrant fruity flavours. The palate has very good extension and ends clean and bright.
Notwithstanding the same modest alcohol as Pitchfork, has much greater intensity of flavour and also length; while barrel-fermented in French oak (11 months maturation) fruit, rather than oak, drives the wine. Screwcap. 12.5% alc. Rating 96 Points Drink 2018 $25 Date Tasted Dec 08 James Halliday Wine Companion
Michael Kerrigan makes pristine wines and he’s now got the Hay Shed Hill wines humming. This chardonnay is lovely. Elegant, pure, modestly flavoured and 100 percent satisfying. It tastes of grapefruit and nectarine and toasty oak and it all floats through your mouth with delicate ease. Nice length. Noticeably low alcohol. Already drinking well though it’s so fine and acidic that it will likely drink better given another six months in bottle. Lovely in an understated way. Rated : 91 Points Alcohol : 12.5% Price : $24 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2010 - 2012 - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front