House Of Cards Ace High Chardonnay 2024

Awards and Accolades

Gold Medal and 96 Points – 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition

The 2024 Ace High Chardonnay received 96 points and a Gold Medal during the IWSC’s 2025 judging. The international judging panel identified aromas of camomile, lemon curd and apple pie, accompanied by vanilla and cinnamon. Grapefruit, pastry and nutmeg followed across the palate, finishing with a fresh saline character. A score of 96 points places the wine firmly within the IWSC Gold Medal category and recognises the quality of its fruit, balance, complexity and finish.

95 Points Ray Jordan, WA Wine Review 2026

“A wine of deep intensity, opening with lifted aromatics that tumble into a finely structured and textured palate. Hazelnut and light stonefruit on the nose are immediately attractive, followed by citrus and grapefruit characters, supported by a touch of smoky, savoury nuance. There’s lovely texture here, with a chalky thread that completes the wine beautifully.”

Why the 96-Point IWSC Gold Medal Matters

The International Wine & Spirit Competition brings together experienced international judges, including Masters of Wine, sommeliers and specialist wine buyers.

The 2024 Ace High Chardonnay was assessed by a five-member panel that included Sarah Abbott MW and Andrew Caillard MW. The wine was tasted for its aroma, flavour, structure, balance, complexity and overall quality. Receiving 96 points is therefore more than a general endorsement. It identifies the wine as a Gold Medal Chardonnay capable of standing alongside highly regarded examples from leading wine regions around the world. The judges’ description also reflects the wine’s balance. Rich flavours such as lemon curd, pastry and apple pie are lifted by grapefruit, spice and a fresh saline finish, preventing the Chardonnay from becoming heavy or overly broad.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Bright straw with pale gold highlights.
• Aromatics: Lifted hazelnut, light stone fruit and camomile lead into lemon curd, grapefruit and baked apple.
• Citrus character: Grapefruit and lemon provide freshness, definition and a slightly pithy edge.
• Oak and savoury complexity: Vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and subtle smoky notes complement the fruit without dominating it.
• Palate: Deeply flavoured and finely structured, with concentrated citrus and stone fruit supported by pastry-like complexity.
• Texture: Generous and layered through the middle, with a chalky mineral thread providing shape and control.
• Finish: Long, savoury and persistent, with grapefruit, roasted nuts, gentle spice and a fresh saline quality.

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2024
• Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Region: Margaret River, Western Australia
• Vineyard: House of Cards’ single vineyard in Yallingup
• Vineyard management: Organically farmed
• Style: Dry white wine
• Pressing: Whole-bunch pressed
• Fermentation: 100% wild yeast fermentation
• Fermentation and maturation vessels: 92% French oak and 8% concrete egg
• New oak: 75% of the French oak component
• Malolactic fermentation: 30% wild malolactic fermentation
• Maturation: 11 months
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Closure: Screwcap
• Bottle size: 750 mL
• Cellaring: Up to 10 years
• Serving temperature: Approximately 10 to 12°C

The House of Cards Vineyard

House of Cards produces its wines from a small, single vineyard in Yallingup, in the northern part of the Margaret River wine region. The vineyard covers approximately 12 hectares and is farmed organically. Its location near the coast provides cooling maritime breezes, helping the Chardonnay retain freshness and natural acidity as flavour develops in the grapes.Growing and making the wine from one estate vineyard gives House of Cards control over the entire process, from vineyard management and picking decisions through to fermentation, maturation and final blending. This close connection to the vineyard is especially important for premium Chardonnay. The variety responds strongly to its growing environment, and the combination of concentrated fruit, citrus freshness and saline minerality gives Ace High a clear sense of place.

The 2024 Margaret River Vintage

The 2024 Margaret River vintage was exceptionally early, warm and dry, requiring growers and winemakers to respond quickly as the fruit ripened. Carefully managed Chardonnay vineyards produced fruit with impressive power, concentration and natural acidity. These qualities are reflected in the Ace High Chardonnay, which has substantial flavour and texture without losing freshness or definition. The warmth of the season contributed depth and generosity, while the vineyard’s maritime influence and the winemaking approach preserved the grapefruit acidity, chalky structure and saline finish that keep the wine balanced.

Winemaking

The Chardonnay grapes were whole-bunch pressed, allowing the juice to be extracted gently without excessive crushing of the skins, seeds and stems. The wine was fermented entirely with wild yeast. Rather than adding a cultured yeast strain, the winemaker allowed naturally occurring yeasts to conduct the fermentation. This can create a slower, less predictable process, but it can also build greater aromatic and textural complexity. Approximately 92% of the wine was fermented and matured in French oak, with 75% of that oak being new. The remaining 8% was placed in concrete egg.

French oak contributes structure, gentle oxygen exposure and flavours such as hazelnut, vanilla, spice and savoury smoke. The concrete egg component provides a contrasting influence, helping retain freshness, mineral definition and movement through the palate. Thirty per cent of the wine completed wild malolactic fermentation. This softened a portion of the sharper natural acidity and contributed additional texture without removing the grapefruit freshness that gives the wine its shape.

The wine was matured for approximately 11 months before the final blend was assembled.

French Oak and Concrete Egg

Using French oak for most of the wine gives Ace High its depth, complexity and ability to develop in the bottle. New oak has a stronger influence than seasoned barrels, contributing more noticeable spice, toast and structure. Because the wine itself has substantial fruit intensity, it can support a high proportion of new oak without becoming overwhelmed.The concrete egg component does not add oak flavour. Its rounded shape can keep fine lees moving naturally through the wine, building texture while helping preserve fruit purity and acidity. Combining the two vessels allows the wine to have the richness expected from a premium barrel-fermented Chardonnay while retaining a fresh, energetic and mineral finish.

Serving and Cellaring

• Serve House of Cards Ace High Chardonnay at approximately 10 to 12°C. Serving the wine directly from a very cold refrigerator can initially hide its aroma and texture. Allow it to stand outside the refrigerator for approximately 15 minutes before pouring.
• If the bottle has been stored at normal room temperature, refrigerate it for approximately 60 to 90 minutes before serving.
• The wine can be enjoyed now, although it will benefit from air. Opening it 20 to 30 minutes before serving will help reveal its hazelnut, stone fruit, grapefruit and savoury oak characters. Brief decanting is also suitable when serving the wine young.
• For cellaring, store the bottle somewhere cool, dark and temperature stable.

Food Pairing 

• Roast chicken: The wine’s citrus acidity cuts through the richness of the meat, while the hazelnut and savoury oak complement roasted flavours.
• Grilled lobster or crayfish: Sweet shellfish works beautifully with the Chardonnay’s lemon curd, grapefruit and saline characters.
• Seared scallops: The wine’s texture suits the richness of scallops, particularly when served with browned butter or a citrus sauce.
• Roasted salmon: The concentrated fruit and oak structure are substantial enough for salmon, while the acidity keeps the pairing fresh.
• Pork with apple: Apple-based sauces echo the wine’s baked-apple and spice characters.
• Creamy mushroom dishes: Mushroom risotto or pasta complements its smoky, nutty and savoury qualities.
• Roast cauliflower: Try it with browned butter, toasted almonds and herbs.
• Firm or washed-rind cheese: Comté, Gruyère and moderately mature washed-rind cheeses suit its combination of richness, acidity and nutty complexity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 96-point IWSC Gold Medal mean?

The International Wine & Spirit Competition assesses wines through panels of experienced international judges. A score of 96 points places this Chardonnay within the IWSC Gold Medal category. It indicates that the judges found a particularly high level of quality, complexity, balance and length. For the drinker, it provides independent confirmation that this is an outstanding premium Margaret River Chardonnay rather than simply a wine carrying a high-end price or label.

What does whole-bunch pressed mean?

Whole-bunch pressing means the Chardonnay grapes were placed into the press without first being completely crushed or separated from their stems. Pressing the fruit gently in this way can produce clean juice while limiting the extraction of coarse or bitter material from the skins and seeds. In practical terms, it helps preserve freshness and gives the finished wine a more refined structure.

Will the high percentage of new oak make the wine taste woody?

New French oak contributes noticeable flavour and structure, but the wine has enough fruit concentration and acidity to support it. The oak appears as hazelnut, vanilla, spice and subtle smoke rather than raw or dominant woodiness. Its influence is also balanced by the concrete egg component and the wine’s strong grapefruit freshness. The oak should become increasingly integrated as the wine develops in the bottle.

What does fermentation in a concrete egg contribute?

Concrete does not add woody flavours to wine. It provides gentle oxygen exposure while helping maintain fruit purity and mineral definition. The egg shape can also encourage fine yeast lees to circulate naturally, adding texture without making the wine feel heavy. Only 8% of Ace High was placed in concrete egg, but this component helps lift and balance the richer French-oak portion of the wine.

What is wild yeast fermentation?

Wild yeast fermentation relies on naturally occurring yeasts from the grapes and winery rather than using only a commercially selected yeast strain. It can create more complex aromas and textures, although it requires careful monitoring because the fermentation is less predictable. For this Chardonnay, the approach contributes to its layered fruit, savoury detail and individual character.

What is malolactic fermentation?

Malolactic fermentation converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid. This can make a Chardonnay feel rounder and creamier while introducing subtle buttery or nutty characters. Only 30% of Ace High completed wild malolactic fermentation. This provides some softness and texture while allowing the majority of the wine to retain its natural citrus freshness.

What does chalky texture mean?

Chalky texture describes a fine, dry and mineral-like sensation across the palate. It does not mean the wine contains chalk. The term refers to the way acidity, fruit and subtle phenolic structure combine to create a gently grippy finish. In this wine, that chalky sensation provides definition and stops the rich fruit and oak from feeling overly broad.

Should I decant it?

Decanting is optional, but the wine will benefit from some air when young. Opening the bottle 20 to 30 minutes before serving should be sufficient. A brief decant can help reveal more of its fruit, nutty complexity and savoury detail. Avoid serving it too cold, as very low temperatures will suppress these aromas and textures.