Pooley Butcher’s Hill Chardonnay 2024

Description

Product Description:Bright, structured, and unapologetically Tasmanian—Butcher’s Hill delivers Chardonnay with nerve and nuance. The 2024 Pooley Butcher’s Hill Chardonnay is a commanding cool-climate white from a steep, iron-rich slope in the Coal River Valley. A warmer growing season in 2024 produced pristine fruit with natural concentration and drive, resulting in a Chardonnay that is both textural and tightly wound. Under the hand of Anna Pooley, this is a wine that walks the line between richness and restraint—offering bold fruit backed by clean acid and saline precision. Hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, the juice was wild fermented in 40% new Sirugue French oak before spending 11 months on lees, with 50% malolactic fermentation adding roundness. The result is a Chardonnay with complexity from start to finish—lime curd, stone fruits, roasted almond and spice, all stitched together by a taut mineral line. It’s more muscular than its Cooinda Vale sibling, but every element is proportioned, deliberate, and expressive of site. Drink now with roast chicken or aged Comte, or cellar for 5–10 years as the texture deepens and spice integrates. Maker Pooley Wines, established in 1985 by Denis and Margaret Pooley, is a family-owned vineyard that has grown to become one of Australia’s most acclaimed cool-climate wine producers. Situated in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, the winery has flourished under the stewardship of three generations, with John Pooley expanding the estate by adding the Butcher’s Hill Vineyard in 2003. Today, John’s daughter Anna Pooley, an award-winning winemaker, leads the production with an eye toward tradition and innovation. Her meticulous approach to winemaking honours the family’s legacy while elevating Pooley Wines to new heights of excellence. Recognised as the 2023 Winery of the Year by Halliday Wine Companion, Pooley’s commitment to quality and family values is evident in every bottle. Philosophy Pooley Wines’ philosophy is simple: to create wines that genuinely express the land, climate, and vintage from which they come. With a focus on sustainable viticulture and minimal intervention in the winemaking process, Pooley Wines allows the natural character of the fruit to shine through. The family’s dedication to crafting wines that balance elegance, complexity, and innovation is at the core of their approach. By embracing the rhythm of the vineyard and working with the challenges each vintage presents, Pooley Wines produces wines that are both distinctive and timeless, a true reflection of Tasmania’s unique terroir. Tasting NotesNOSE– Bright and complexLime curd, white peach, cumquat and fennel with coriander seed, lemongrass and roasted almond. PALATE– Textural and tightPink Lady apple, nectarine, honey and creme brûlee glide over a spine of kaffir lime and toasted almond. FINISH– Long and mineralSaline acidity and fine phenolics carry a finish of candied citrus peel and savoury oak spice. Reviews & AccoladesPink grapefruit, lemon oil, aniseed, cashew and cedar, a chamomile perfume and white peach. It’s gently chalky in texture, a little nutty and umami, biscuit spice oak, balanced acidity, with some grilled nuts and a saline finish of excellent length. Lovely wine. Fine and distinctive. Yum. Touch and go for 96 points really. – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, 95 Points Finer DetailsStyle: White WineVarietal: ChardonnayCountry: AustraliaRegion: Coal River Valley, Tasmania