Gifting has never been easier
Perfect if you're short on time or are unable to deliver your gift yourself. Enter your message and select when to send it.
Description
The Rocket originally started as an accident - a single rogue ferment that took off with so much energy Michael Downer decided to bottle it separately. Today, it stands as one of the most distinct wines in Murdoch Hill’s Artisan range, representing the edgier, tightly wound side of Adelaide Hills Chardonnay.
Now in its eighth release, the 2024 vintage is sourced from the elevated, cool slopes of Lenswood. Downer leans hard into precision and drive here. The fruit undergoes a wild ferment and full malolactic fermentation, maturing in 45% new oak with careful solids work to build texture.
Despite the serious oak and full malo, the wine never feels heavy. It is tightly coiled and flinty, leading with lemon pith, brown lime, and white stone fruit. The palate is focused and linear, driven by a fine, pithy grip, subtle struck-match complexity, and a mineral acidity that carries through a long, dry finish. It's a contemplative Chardonnay built entirely on tension.
98 points & No.4 in James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of Australia
"Flashy, minerally and restrained aromas of grilled lemons, struck match, salted nuts, citrus blossoms, phosphorus, oyster shells and honeysuckle. The palate is tightly wound, with excellent density of fruit cut through by electric acidity and bright, tense clarity that leaves a mouthwatering finish of oatmeal plus savory and saline undertones. It’s hard to believe this is 100% malolactic given the high-voltage, energetic drive. This is truly excellent and all class."
- Ryan Montgomery (James Suckling)
Customer Reviews
| 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 |
James Suckling The Wine Front |
| Critic Score |
98 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
Murdoch Hill
Murdoch Hill Murdoch Hill
Others also liked
Recently viewed
Common Questions
Delivery is free on orders of $199 or more.
For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.
We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.
Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.
No sorry we do not have a store front and pickup is not available.
Yes, no problem. When placing your order select ‘Store at Different Drop and Delivery Later’ as your shipping method or reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order with additional instructions.
We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.
To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you.
If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.
Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.
Yes, of course. We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. You can see our price match policy here.
No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.
No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.
Most wine retailers list at a single-bottle price and then discount 10–15% when you buy six or twelve. We've taken the opposite approach. Since the overwhelming majority of our orders are already 6 bottles or more, our list price is set for the case buyer from the start. There's no inflated single-bottle price to discount down from.
What that means for you:
- One price, same for everyone — no minimum to hit to unlock the best rate
- No mixed-six gymnastics to qualify for a discount
- Our single-bottle price is typically at or below a traditional retailer's by-the-dozen rate
Put simply: the box discount is already baked into the price.
**And if you find it cheaper elsewhere?** Let us know. If the same wine is available at a lower price at another retailer (including at their mixed-six or by-the-dozen rate) we're happy to match it.
If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.
Need a hand?
We’d love to help you out! Email is usually best but if it’s something urgent or you just really want to have a yarn about wine, food, or even the meaning of life, give us a call — we’re here for you.