Tasting Notes Both the 2023 Greer Road Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sold separately, were released in mid-March. The Chardonnay shows a riper, fruitier profile than its peers, but still within the context of Hardie’s very linear, balanced style. The nose presents lovely peach, lemon and hazelnut. It is light-to-medium bodied (12.5%) harmonious, complete and delicious, with excellent length. Certainly fine to drink now but should age 10 years. Note that 20% of this wine was purchased from Casa-Dea on the other side of Greer Road. The Pinot Noir immediately shows the ripeness of the site and vintage as well with fairly deep ruby colour (deeper than many County pinots). It has lifted, showy and ripe aromas of raspberry/cherry nose, rose florality and spice. It is medium bodied, quite powerful, well balanced, firm with youthful gritty tannin, so I would cellar three years and be drinking his more supple 2021 and 2022 vintages that are still available. The length is excellent.
Backgrounder A feature length profile on Norman Hardie was published at the same time as this review, so I won’t repeat. It is notable, however, that the stoney vineyard on Greer Road, which is pictured below, is the original site first planted in 2001, and that this is the first time that Greer Road is designated on the label, a sign of a mature and expanding operation. The winemaking has been constant over the years, with long, cool natural yeast fermentations and ageing on lees in largely neutral oak. The only real change was in 2018 when Hardie switched to even longer barrel ageing over two winters, which has brought finer harmony and texture to the wines.
