April 2026 *New Vintages Now Available*
We're delighted to announce this year's much-anticipated release of the 2024 Cabernets & 2025 Chardonnay - both excellent wines, though from quite different seasons.
You can order by clicking here or on any of the 'Buy Wine' buttons on our website.
Here in the Hunter Valley, the single biggest challenge our winemakers face is the weather, particularly at harvest time. Never relegated to small talk for those of us in the wine industry, the weather plays a significant role in what we do and, for the past four Hunter vintages – 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 – we have experienced near-ideal conditions for grape growing.
In 2024, we saw a continuation of the El Nino weather pattern (warmer, drier, drought conditions) on the back of the stellar 2023 vintage. El Nino presented us with perfect conditions during the spring growing season and for the 2024 harvest. However, the lack of moisture in the vineyard resulted in lower-than-average crop yields in 2024, and some of you may recall last year’s release of Chardonnay selling out in a matter of days (something we anticipate occurring with the 2024 Cabernets release, being from the same low-yielding year and of exceptional quality).
After the end of harvest in 2024 and with all our wines safely in barrel, the Hunter experienced a wet period from April through June. The rain laid a perfect foundation for the growing season ahead of Vintage 2025, and the vineyard responded well to the much-needed replenishment of soil moisture. The resulting crop yields for Vintage 2025 were back to normal levels, and you may be delighted to hear that we have a good volume of the excellent-quality 2025 Chardonnay, on offer for this release.
The 2025 Chardonnay presently has a more refined, lean profile (when compared with previous vintages at time of release) though will begin to open beautifully over time and have incredible longevity, displaying all the finesse and class that Lake’s Folly wines are known for.
2024 Cabernets 96 / 100
Perfumed lifted nose of mulberry, blackberry, and raspberry with hints of coffee. The palate sees the same berry flavours carry over, with smooth, mid-palate weight, supported by classy French oak and a hint of toasty oak. A seamless wine with great length and persistence of flavour.
2025 Chardonnay 96 / 100
Pear and white peach aromas with nicely integrated, subtle French oak. The palate at this early stage is fine and delicate – in part, a reflection of the higher yield this vintage. Peach and hints of tropical fruits flow onto the palate, which is seamless and textured from the 8 months spent on yeast lees. A spine of natural acidity gives the wine length and persistence. A wine for the ages, which will benefit from cellaring to show its full potential in 3+ years and continue to improve for 10-15 years to come.
Consistency is something we believe cannot be overstated, when it comes to wines from 100% single-site estate vineyards. For over 60 years now, Lake’s Folly’s wines have been made at the same site, with grapes from the same vineyard, where delivering consistency is key in our winemaking and viticulture, regardless of what the weather delivers.
You can place your order online (click here)
We hope you enjoy these latest releases.
Rodney Kempe - Winemaker
