Whatever you think you know about South African wine — forget it. Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 2021 delivers a masterclass in elegance and freshness, while still carrying its unmistakably New‑World DNA. The 95 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and 94 from Decanter confirm its greatness.
Hamilton Russell is one of South Africa’s most renowned wineries. In 1975, Tim Hamilton Russell decided that to make the wines he envisioned, he needed to find cool climate conditions in an otherwise warm country. His search led him to Hemel‑en‑Aarde, near the ocean, where he settled and now produces exclusively cool‑climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 2021 comes from poor, stony soils with a notable clay component, which contributes both to concentration and to the freshness of the fruit. The wine ferments and ages for 9 months in French oak barrels, only 26% of which are new, with the rest being second‑ to fourth‑use.
It’s a wine that will impress you with its character and make you exclaim, “Why did I buy only one?”
