“It has a clean, crisp bouquet of citrus fruit infused with smoke and hazelnut aromas, quite understated in style. The palate is well balanced, taut and linear, displaying fine acidity and gaining depth toward the persistent, saline finish. This is a superb Chardonnay from Hamilton Russell. Excellent.” 93 points
Neal Martin, Vinous April 2021
Chardonnay 2017
“Melon, yellow apple, white peach and quince flavours give this an opulent feel, harnessed by honeysuckle and quinine accents.” 93 points
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 15th June 2019
“The 2017 vintage really is a brilliant year for Cape whites, as this stellar, world famous Chardonnay confirms. Tighter and more focused than the 2016, it has notes of beeswax, citrus and tangerine, embellished by aromatic oak. The best release yet of Hamilton Russell Chardonnay.” 96 points
Tim Atkins, South Africa Report 2018
“Melon, yellow apple, white peach and quince flavors give this an opulent feel, harnessed by honeysuckle and quinine accents through the finish, showing refinement and length in the end.” 93 points
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 15th October 2018
“A really stylish white with white stones, dried apricots, white blossoms, lemon curd, jasmine and caramelized citrus peel. Medium to full body, some really nice phenolic texture, very zesty acidity and an pinpoint finish.” 94 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com 25th June 2018
Chardonnay 2016
“Emul Ross used less malolactic in 2012 because of the lower levels of natural acidity, but otherwise this wine follows a very successful template. Floral, green olive aromas segue into a rich, textured, honeyed palate with well-handled spicy oak and a plush, yet focused finish. A wine that deserves its lofty reputation. 2018-28.” 95 Points
Tim Atkins, South Africa Report 2017
Chardonnay 2015
“Ripe and rippling with tension, featuring Jonagold apple, white peach, Mirabelle plum and honeysuckle notes coiled at the core. Accents of heather and hazelnut extend slowly through the citrus oil – and mineral-edged finish.” 94 points
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 30th September 2016
Pinot Noir 2019
“This has an open, quite herbal bouquet of vibrant red and black fruit, underlying sous-bois notes coming through with aeration. The well-balanced palate offers fine-grained tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Open and expressive, with a pinch of black pepper on the cohesive finish. Given the trauma suffered this vintage, this should be considered a success, not least because it still seems to bear the imprimatur of Hamilton Russell.” 91 points
Neal Martin, Vinous April 2021
Pinot Noir 2017
“Continuing the subtle changes that have occurred under Emul Ross, the Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir is now a worthy stable mate for the estate’s Chardonnay. This shows the acidity of the 2017 vintage, with a fine perfume of wild strawberry and dried mushroom, subtle wood and a dense, complex, savoury finish.” 95 points
Tim Atkins, South Africa Report 2018
“Fresh red cherries, blueberries, rose petals, stems, nutmeg, licorice and spice box. Medium to full body, refined tannins, savory undertones and a caressing finish. Lovely tension to this. So refined and elegant.” 93 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com 25th June 2018
“Offers a lovely mix of gently steeped cherry, plum and raspberry fruit flavors, infused with singed anise, black tea and incense notes. A light mineral edge underscores the finish and the acidity is finely beaded. “93 points
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 15th June 2015
Pinot Noir 2016
“The subtle changes that winemaker Emul Ross is making to the Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir, allied to some replanting of virused blocks, is bearing fruit. For me, this is the best recent vintage of the wine, showing fine, perfumed red berry aromas, subtle oak, some whole bunch spice, savoury, compact tannins and impressive concentration. 2019-24.” 95 points
Tim Atkins, South Africa Report 2017
Pinot Noir 2015
“I don’t believe there’s a finer Pinot Noir producer in all South Africa than Hamilton Russell. The estate makes two wines, a Pinot and a Chardonnay, and both are exceptional, vintage after vintage, described by critics and wine lovers alike as the most Burgundian in the Cape. The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley has a stony, clay rich soil and cool maritime climate and the resulting wine is delicately scented, finely textured, slightly spicy and with a mouth-fillingly long, savoury finish.”
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa
Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Chardonnay 2019
“It has a clean, crisp bouquet of citrus fruit infused with smoke and hazelnut aromas, quite understated in style. The palate is well balanced, taut and linear, displaying fine acidity and gaining depth toward the persistent, saline finish. This is a superb Chardonnay from Hamilton Russell. Excellent.” 93 points
Neal Martin, Vinous
April 2021
Chardonnay 2017
“Melon, yellow apple, white peach and quince flavours give this an opulent feel, harnessed by honeysuckle and quinine accents.” 93 points
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
15th June 2019
“The 2017 vintage really is a brilliant year for Cape whites, as this stellar, world famous Chardonnay confirms. Tighter and more focused than the 2016, it has notes of beeswax, citrus and tangerine, embellished by aromatic oak. The best release yet of Hamilton Russell Chardonnay.” 96 points
Tim Atkins, South Africa Report 2018
“Melon, yellow apple, white peach and quince flavors give this an opulent feel, harnessed by honeysuckle and quinine accents through the finish, showing refinement and length in the end.” 93 points
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
15th October 2018
“A really stylish white with white stones, dried apricots, white blossoms, lemon curd, jasmine and caramelized citrus peel. Medium to full body, some really nice phenolic texture, very zesty acidity and an pinpoint finish.” 94 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
25th June 2018
Chardonnay 2016
“Emul Ross used less malolactic in 2012 because of the lower levels of natural acidity, but otherwise this wine follows a very successful template. Floral, green olive aromas segue into a rich, textured, honeyed palate with well-handled spicy oak and a plush, yet focused finish. A wine that deserves its lofty reputation. 2018-28.” 95 Points
Tim Atkins, South Africa Report 2017
Chardonnay 2015
“Ripe and rippling with tension, featuring Jonagold apple, white peach, Mirabelle plum and honeysuckle notes coiled at the core. Accents of heather and hazelnut extend slowly through the citrus oil – and mineral-edged finish.” 94 points
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
30th September 2016
Pinot Noir 2019
“This has an open, quite herbal bouquet of vibrant red and black fruit, underlying sous-bois notes coming through with aeration. The well-balanced palate offers fine-grained tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Open and expressive, with a pinch of black pepper on the cohesive finish. Given the trauma suffered this vintage, this should be considered a success, not least because it still seems to bear the imprimatur of Hamilton Russell.” 91 points
Neal Martin, Vinous
April 2021
Pinot Noir 2017
“Continuing the subtle changes that have occurred under Emul Ross, the Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir is now a worthy stable mate for the estate’s Chardonnay. This shows the acidity of the 2017 vintage, with a fine perfume of wild strawberry and dried mushroom, subtle wood and a dense, complex, savoury finish.” 95 points
Tim Atkins, South Africa Report 2018
“Fresh red cherries, blueberries, rose petals, stems, nutmeg, licorice and spice box. Medium to full body, refined tannins, savory undertones and a caressing finish. Lovely tension to this. So refined and elegant.” 93 points
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
25th June 2018
“Offers a lovely mix of gently steeped cherry, plum and raspberry fruit flavors, infused with singed anise, black tea and incense notes. A light mineral edge underscores the finish and the acidity is finely beaded. “93 points
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
15th June 2015
Pinot Noir 2016
“The subtle changes that winemaker Emul Ross is making to the Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir, allied to some replanting of virused blocks, is bearing fruit. For me, this is the best recent vintage of the wine, showing fine, perfumed red berry aromas, subtle oak, some whole bunch spice, savoury, compact tannins and impressive concentration. 2019-24.” 95 points
Tim Atkins, South Africa Report 2017
Pinot Noir 2015
“I don’t believe there’s a finer Pinot Noir producer in all South Africa than Hamilton Russell. The estate makes two wines, a Pinot and a Chardonnay, and both are exceptional, vintage after vintage, described by critics and wine lovers alike as the most Burgundian in the Cape. The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley has a stony, clay rich soil and cool maritime climate and the resulting wine is delicately scented, finely textured, slightly spicy and with a mouth-fillingly long, savoury finish.”
Johnny Ray, Spear’s
1st November 2016