Hoddles Creek Estate was established in 1997 when the D'Anna family decided to establish a vineyard on the property that has been in the family since 1960. The vineyard sits astride Gembrook road and adjacent Hoddles Creek. Its steeply sloping blocks prohibit mechanical harvesting, with both vineyards being hand pruned and harvested. All wines are single vineyard and estate grown.

Located on the steepest, highest block at Hoddles Creek. Syberia is always quite different to the standard Hoddles Creek Chardonnay. The row orientation is East-West so it doesn't see a lot of direct sunlight on bunches. The wine is whole bunch pressed straight to cask, no fining and zero filtration. From the day the vines were planted, Syberia has always been a special block. Only the best barrels are choosen to make this cuvee.

Delicious, wonderful expression of chardonnay delivering quite a bit of concentration compared to other Syberia releases, richness of stone fruit, some sugared almond notes, cinnamon, faint honeycomb and alpine herb elements in palate and bouquet. Texture is glorious, silky then firms up in the distance to a fine, talc-like minerally pucker. Elegant, refined, showing detail of fruit, spice, mineral, well-judged oak seasoning. Done with aplomb. Stellar stuff. Date: Oct 2023; Alcohol: 12.5%; Price: $70; Closure: Screwcap; Drink: 2023-2030; Rated: 96 Points; Mike Bennie; The Wine Front