CHAPEL HILL WINERY : ‘...outstandingly honest wines’. 24 February 2024.
The Chapel Hill Winery was built on the site of the historic Seaview Chapel. The Chapel was built in 1865 and now serves as their tasting room and cellar door. The first vines were planted in 1972 and the first vintage was in 1975.
At Chapel Hill there exists a deep respect for the land and their vines - meticulously managed by Rachel Steer (viticulturist), and under the diligent guidance of winemakers Michael Fragos *(on the right of the photo) and Bryn Richards. Chapel Hill diligently hand craft wines with integrity and typicity. All their wines are handled gently in small batches with a restrained winemaking philosophy. With their red wines being open fermented, plunged regularly, basket pressed and not filtered, which ensures the wonderful authenticity and varietal character.
The Parson range is an invitation to discover the balance and honesty that is a signature of Chapel Hill wines. A range that illustrates that good wines are genuinely made in the vineyard; each wine is carefully crafted to highlight the varietal characteristics and with an early drinking style in mind.
Chapel Hill's McLaren Vale ‘The MV’ range of wines demonstrate there captivating ‘sense of place’. These single varietal expressions unreservedly encapsulate the charm of McLaren Vale and share what makes this region so special.
Chapel Hill kindly sent me some recently bottled new releases, I had the pleasure to taste an outstanding selection of new vintages, some coming onto the market now, and others not too far away : so I decided to highlight the following, as they are wines worth sharing.
Chapel Hill ‘The Parson’ G.S.M. 2022 : 4 Stars ★★★★
Grape Varietals: 53% Grenache, 32% Syrah & 15% Mourvèdre
Growing Region: McLaren Vale - South Australia
Winemakers: Michael Fragos & Bryn Richards
To craft this medium weight, expressive mixed varietal wine - when it came time for harvesting the different parcels, they were strategically picked at ideal ripeness and the fermentation handled gently, remaining on their skins just long enough to ensure ideal extraction of vibrant varietal flavours and balanced tannins. 85% was in stainless steel tanks and 15% went into seasoned French oak (500L Puncheons, 1-3 years old) for 8 months maturation.
• In the glass you have a deep plum red colour with shining hue. On the inviting nose boiled sweets, vibrant small mixed berries, even a note of marshmallow. This has a medium weight, with a fleshy, juice mid-palate, showcasing cherry liquor flavours, mixed berries, dried herbs and a note of cacao. This wine has soft acidity, smooth tannins and deftly infused vanilla oak resulting in a finely textured wine and a dry lingering savoury finish.
• Gentle breathing & serve between 16°- 17°C : 14.5% Alc. : Classic dry style : Cellar 2 - 4 years : *NZ$28.99
Chapel Hill ‘The Parson’ Shiraz 2022 : 5 Stars ★★★★★
Grape Varietal: 100% Shiraz
Growing Region: McLaren Vale - South Australia
Winemakers: Michael Fragos & Bryn Richards
After fermentation it was gently pressed with the free run component combined with the pressing portion. This was to express and retain varietal typicity, along with showcasing the wines complexity. Michael & Bryn used seasoned tight grained French oak during the 12 month maturation process, before tasting and bottling.
• A deep plum red colour, with a purple hue. A hypnotic aroma of blueberries and mixed Asian spice. This McLaren Vale Shiraz displays generous fleshy blackberries, blueberries, dried herbs, bitter cacao, mixed spices on a luscious medium weight palate. This wine had good amount of fruit acidity, balanced but reliable fruit tannins and a finely textured palate that leads onto a pleasingly long dry finish.
• Mild decanting & serve between 16°- 18°C : 14.5% Alc. : Classic dry style : Cellar 4 - 5 years : *NZ$28.99
Chapel Hill ‘The Parson’ Cabernet 2022 : 4 Stars ★★★★
Grape Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Growing Region: McLaren Vale - South Australia
Winemakers: Michael Fragos & Bryn Richards
Michael and his teams’ mantra for their red wines; is to achieve power and grace, harnessing the opulence that McLaren Vale is renowned for and incorporating both style and poise. To achieve the personality of this 2022 ‘Parson’ Cabernet Sauvignon expressing true varietal flavours, the grapes were strategically harvested to avoid any green tannins or overripe fruit flavours and after a diligent vinification it was aged for 13 months with seasoned French oak.
• A black cherry colour with a purple hue fills your glass. On the nose you are invited in by mint & mixed berry chocolate, with a note of cacao and subtle tobacco leaf. The palate has a ripe extraction and a varietal structured that is both eloquent and complex, and is further supported by an array of integrated fine grain tannins and oak resulting in a silky texture for a Cabernet and a persistent finish.
• Mild decanting & serve between 17°- 18°C : 14.5% Alc. : Classic dry style : Cellar 3 - 4 years : *NZ$28.99
Chapel Hill ‘The MV’ Bush Vine Grenache 2022 : 4 Stars ★★★★
Grape Varietal: 100% Grenache
Growing Region: McLaren Vale - South Australia
Viticulturist: Rachel Steer
Winemakers: Michael Fragos & Bryn Richards
The hand harvested ‘bush vines’ were planted in 1948 and 1952. The bunches went into open fermenters and gently plunged for several days before being basket pressed and transferred into 100% French oak barrels (in a mix of 1-5 year old 500L Puncheons) where it matured for 12 months and clarified naturally before bottling.
• On the inviting nose, aromas of dark cherries, rich plum jam, red liquorice and wild floral notes. The medium-to-full palate is luscious, with fleshy characters celebrating vibrant juicy red berries, plums and lightly dusted with cacao and earthy herbal nuances. This wine has a lavish smooth texture, with fine tannins, soft fruit acidity and diligent use of oak are coming together early in its development and this is an iconic benchmark style.
• Mild decanting & serve between 16°- 17°C : 14% Alc. : Classic dry style : Cellar 5 - 7 years : *NZ$38.99
Chapel Hill ‘The MV’ Shiraz 2022 : 5 Stars ★★★★★
Grape Varietal: 100% Shiraz
Growing Region: McLaren Vale - South Australia
Winemakers: Michael Fragos & Bryn Richards
The Shiraz fruit went into open fermenters where it was gently plunged for several days before being basket pressed and transferred to 100% French oak barrels (300L Hogsheads, with 21% new oak, and 79% 1-7 years old) where it matured for 17 months and clarified naturally before bottling.
• Inviting aromas of wild berries, smoke dried herbs and mixed spices. The palate has a number of rich, authentic characters and a savoury signature. This wine delivers on all fronts showcasing those wild dark berries, cassis, star anise and aged tobacco leaf. The respectful time in oak has nicely wrapped the generous personality seamlessly with its natural fruit acidity and silky tannins resulting in a luscious and engaging style that has an early synergy and enduring quality finish. ‘Outstanding’.
• Good decanting & serve between 17°- 18°C : 14.5% Alc. : Classic dry style : Cellar 8 - 10 years : *NZ$38.99
Chapel Hill ‘The MV’ Cabernet 2022 : 5 Stars ★★★★★
Grape Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Growing Region: McLaren Vale - South Australia
Winemakers: Michael Fragos & Bryn Richards
The harvested fruit went into open fermenters where it was gently plunged for several days before being basket pressed and transferred into 100% French oak barrels (300L Hogsheads, with 22% new oak, and 78% a mix of 1-6 years old) where it matured for 18 months and then clarified naturally before bottling.
• Classic aromas of pencil-shavings, blackberries, mint chocolate, cloves and note of tobacco-leaf. The palate has a depth and generous character, most importantly varietal and with regional integrity. Showcasing blackcurrants, blackberries, black olives, dried herbs and allspice. The diligent time in oak has united the grippy tannins, honest acidity and generous fleshy fruit extraction, resulting in a textured and well-structured wine, giving breadth, along with an early dexterity and sophisticated finish.
• Wide-based decanting & serve between 17°- 18°C : 14.5% Alc. : Classic dry style : Cellar 8 - 10 years : *NZ$38.99
*(prices, vintages & availability will vary by outlet & country)