2022 Murdoch Hill Artisan Series The Rocket Chardonnay

Highly Rated
Michael Downer's highly-rated and extremely limited flagship Chardonnay. Becoming on of South Australia's best Chardonnays, full stop.
3.0
Rated 3.0 out of 5 stars
1 Review

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Description

Introducing the recipient of the Trophy for Champion Wine of Show at the 2024 National Wine Show - the 2022 'Rocket' Chardonnay!

"The ferment took off like a rocket," said Michael Downer on the inception of this brilliant cuvee. One vintage, a barrel of Chardonnay went a little bit more wild than the rest, and Downer decided to bottle it separately. And thus, The Rocket was launched.

This is the latest release of this blistering, laser-focused Chardonnay from Murdoch Hill, all sourced from the Piccadilly Valley.

It's a superb blend of the piercing and powerful with grapefruit, apple skin and a good minerally edge. Stunning stuff.

97 Points & 2023 Halliday Top 100
"It is a truly heavenly chardonnay, with impeccable balance and mouthfeel..."
- James Halliday (Halliday Wine Companion)

96 Points & Top 100 Australian Wines of 2023
"Somewhere between the Jura and the nether of the New World, this is an exceptional if not highly stylised, mid-weighted chardonna... I often prefer the Tilbury bottling, but not in this instance."
- Ned Goodwin MW (jamessuckling.com)

96 Points
"Lots going on here. Brilliant texture too... Kaleidoscopic in feel. Excellent mod-Aus chardy."
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

96 Points
"There is an all-consuming galaxy of flavor and texture here."
- Erin Larking (Wine Advocate)

Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show,
Len Evans Memorial Trophy for White Wine of Show
Chardonnay Trophy
- National Wine Show 2024

97 points & 2023 Halliday Top 100 - "The back label states: “Made on Earth by humans.” It is a truly heavenly chardonnay, with impeccable balance and mouthfeel, attributes it will retain as it matures in bottle. The fruit has the whip hand, not the oak." - James Halliday (Halliday Wine Companion)

96 Points - "Flint, nectarine skin, white peaches and chalk, a saline slake of mineral torque, pungent and saliva-sapping across the long, punchy finish. Classy oak embossment. Somewhere between the Jura and the nether of the New World, this is an exceptional if not highly stylised, mid-weighted chardonnay molded for the acid freak. Will age well, no doubt. I often prefer the Tilbury bottling, but not in this instance. Drink or hold." - Ned Goodwin MW (jamessuckling.com)

96 Points - "Lots going on here. Brilliant texture too, almost chalky with pucker, bristling with ticklish general minerality, understated in flint, lime, green apple, halva, alpine herbs and fennel. Feels very sleek and slick, extra long, finely and tightly wound but with drinkability in tow. Very precise. A gentle savouriness underlying, with green almond a feature, a feature in the lingering finish. Kaleidoscopic in feel. Excellent mod-Aus chardy." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

96 points - "The 2022 Limited Release The Rocket Chardonnay is a more open-weave, raw, powerful rendition of Chardonnay than the sleek Tilbury, tasted alongside. This has crushed curry leaf in profusion, sugared pink grapefruit, apple pie, layers of preserved lemon and even a hint of loquat. There is n all-consuming galaxy of flavor and texture here. Some roasted almonds and crushed shells close the palate. So good. Again!" - Erin Larkin (The Wine Front)

Customer Reviews

3.0
Rated 3.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 1 review
Total 5 star reviews: 0 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
1 review
  • KJ
    Kevin J.
    Verified Buyer
    2 months ago
    Rated 3 out of 5 stars
    Needs time

    Opened June 2024. Gunpowder bonanza. Not sure what the hype was all about. Putting this one in the cellar for 5-8 years.

Reviews LoadedReviews Added

Chardonnay with great depth whilst retaining precise acidity. The mild conditions brought flavour development early allowing us to pick with excellent natural acidity. Yields were in balance and gave rise to some ripe stone fruits characters, white flowers, complex citrus characters and a fine mineral finish.

Region: Adelaide Hills, SA
Blend: Chardonnay (100%)
ABV:
Closure: 750ml
Bottle Size:
Production:

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type White
Body Full Bodied
Variety Chardonnay
Country Australia
Region Adelaide Hills
Australian State SA
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
James Suckling
The Wine Front
Critic Score 97
96
Size 750ml
Vintage 2022
Closure Screw Cap

Murdoch Hill

Murdoch Hill is a family-owned winery captained by talented young winemaker Michael Downer.

Downer splits the range in two: his clean-cut, consistently high-quality ‘Estate’ wines are excellent value and perpetually reliable, and his quirky, adventurous ‘Artisan’ wines which offer an alt-styling and different shades of the region.

With the combination of high-quality Adelaide Hills fruit grown on the family estate and the undoubted talent in the winery, this is a Hills producer on the up and up!

Murdoch Hill Murdoch Hill

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