2019 Mchenry Hohnen Chardonnay Calgardup Brook Margaret River 750 ml

When McHenry Hohnen received their first score from the Wine Advocate, it became near-impossible to find a bottle of the Calgardup Brook Chardonnay anywhere in Australia. But our relationship with the winery is so strong that the only bottles in the US—of any vintage—are direct-imported exclusively for Wine Access members. Ripe and rich, yet vibrant, Wine Advocate called it “a brilliant wine that will only improve.”

You might not know McHenry Hohnen—their wines just aren’t seen stateside—but they’re a vanguard biodynamic producer, destined for stardom. They’re rated Five Red Stars by Australian wine authority James Halliday, a distinction reserved for “truly the best of the best.” The wines show gorgeous ripe fruit, vibrant acidity, and a beautiful leesy, matchstick note that reminds us of a great Chassagne-Montrachet or Meursault. 

Gorgeous wines often come from gorgeous places, and the beauty of this Chardonnay is no mystery once you set eyes on Margaret River. The maritime-influenced Australian region is practically Napa Valley on the ocean, and that proximity to the sea does more than make Margaret River the ultimate location for surfer-winemakers. The nearby Indian Ocean cools the grapes, which bathe in copious amounts of sunshine all season long. It’s a combination that makes Margaret River a perfect place for viticulture. Even Robert Mondavi was so convinced of the area’s potential that he flirted with buying property there in the early 1970s.

No bottle shows Margaret River’s personality and quality better than this jewel. Years from now, you’ll be able to say you were among the first to collect this emerging icon on the way up.