Description
The Ceres Hill Chardonnay is a fantastic showcase of the modern direction Margan is bringing to the estate’s white wines. Sourced from the oldest Chardonnay blocks on the property, these vines sit on weathered volcanic clay soils that naturally give the fruit a distinct structural power. It's a mile away from the heavy, buttery styles of the past, aiming for a much brighter and more transparent look at the vineyard.
The 2025 season gave the team ideal picking conditions, locking in brilliant natural acidity alongside excellent flavor concentration. Ollie went for a gentle whole-bunch pressing before fermenting the juice with wild yeasts in older French oak puncheons. The wine sat on its solids for a few months to build a bit of textural weight without picking up any heavy, woody flavours.
The nose is wonderfully open and mineral, loaded with white peach, lemon curd, and a subtle hint of cashew nut. The palate has a beautiful weight to it, but it stays remarkably focused thanks to a line of crisp, cool-climate acidity that cuts straight through the middle. It finishes long, dry, and clean, leaving a lovely savoury grip.
Top-tier Hunter Chardonnay that perfectly balances old-vine depth with a fresh, contemporary energy.
94 points
"It’s a juicy wine, all white nectarine drizzled with lime, a little bit nutty and savoury, a light chalky feel to texture, balanced acidity, grainy and bright on a finish of excellent length, a gin and tonic twist as it closes. Such a good wine. Lots of energy combined with flavour. Delicious."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
| Price Bracket | $51 to $100 |
| Type | White |
| Body | Full Bodied |
| Variety | Chardonnay |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Hunter Valley |
| Australian State | NSW |
| Feature |
Organic |
| Reviewed By |
The Wine Front |
| Critic Score |
94 |
| Alcohol | 12.5% |
| Size | 750ml |
| Vintage | 2025 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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