House Of Cards The Royals Chardonnay 2024

Awards and Accolades

Gold Medal and 95 Points 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition

House of Cards The Royals Chardonnay 2024 received 95 points and a Gold Medal at the IWSC’s 2025 judging. The international panel found expressive aromas of flinty gun smoke, crisp grapefruit and baked lemon. The palate delivered concentrated lime and lemon curd, with fresh herbs bringing lift and savoury complexity.

A score of 95 points places the wine within the IWSC Gold Medal category. It recognises an exceptional combination of fruit concentration, balance, complexity, freshness and length.

Why the 95-Point IWSC Gold Medal Matters

The International Wine & Spirit Competition assesses wines through panels of experienced international judges, including Masters of Wine, sommeliers and specialist wine buyers. The 2024 Royals Chardonnay was tasted by a five-member panel that included Sarah Abbott MW and Andrew Caillard MW. Receiving 95 points places the wine directly within the competition’s Gold Medal category. It confirms that the wine possesses the concentration, complexity and length expected from premium Chardonnay while remaining balanced and enjoyable.

The award is particularly impressive because the judges identified both richness and freshness. Lemon curd and concentrated citrus provide depth, while grapefruit, lime, fresh herbs and flinty minerality maintain precision. The result establishes The Royals as a serious Margaret River Chardonnay and an excellent alternative for drinkers seeking international Gold Medal quality without moving into the price of House of Cards’ flagship Ace High Chardonnay.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Bright straw with pale gold highlights.
• Aromatics: Flinty gun smoke, baked lemon and crisp grapefruit lead the nose.
• Fruit: White peach, zesty lime and lemon curd provide both freshness and concentration.
• Secondary characters: Honeycomb, gentle nuttiness and subtle oak spice add richness and complexity.
• Savoury character: Fresh herbs and smoky mineral notes balance the ripe fruit.
• Palate: Richly flavoured but controlled, with white peach and citrus carried by a fine line of acidity.
• Texture: Smooth and generous through the middle, becoming finer and more mineral towards the finish.
• Oak: Neatly integrated French oak supports the wine without covering its citrus and stone-fruit characters.
• Finish: Long, harmonious and savoury, with lingering grapefruit, lemon curd, smoke and fresh herbs.

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2024
• Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Region: Margaret River, Western Australia
• Vineyard: House of Cards’ single vineyard in Yallingup
• Vineyard management: Organically farmed
• Harvesting: Handpicked
• Pressing: Whole-bunch pressed
• Juice selection: Free-run juice
• Fermentation vessels: 70% French oak and 30% concrete egg
• New oak: 57%
• Fermentation: 100% wild yeast fermentation
• Malolactic fermentation: 30% wild malolactic fermentation
• Maturation: 11 months
• Style: Dry white wine
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Closure: Screwcap
• Bottle size: 750 mL
• Cellaring: Approximately eight years
• Serving temperature: Approximately 10 to 12°C

The 2024 Margaret River Vintage

The 2024 Margaret River vintage was unusually early, warm and dry, with ripening progressing quickly across the region. Careful vineyard management and well-timed harvesting were essential. Chardonnay from successful sites achieved impressive concentration and power while retaining the natural acidity needed for balance. The warmth of the season contributed to the wine’s white peach, honeycomb and lemon curd characters. Grapefruit, lime and fresh herbal notes provide the contrasting freshness.

Winemaking

The Chardonnay fruit was handpicked before being whole-bunch pressed. Whole-bunch pressing allows juice to be extracted gently, limiting the amount of coarse material drawn from the skins and seeds. Only the free-run juice was selected for fermentation, providing a particularly pure and refined foundation for the wine.

Fermentation took place across 70% French oak and 30% concrete egg. Of the total wine, 57% was placed in new oak. The entire fermentation was conducted using wild yeast. This allows naturally occurring yeasts to guide the process, contributing additional aromatic, flavour and textural complexity. Thirty per cent of the wine completed wild malolactic fermentation. This softened part of the natural acidity and contributed texture while preserving the citrus freshness of the remaining wine.

The Chardonnay was matured for approximately 11 months, allowing the fruit, oak, lees and fermentation-derived flavours to integrate before bottling.

French Oak and Concrete Egg

French oak contributes structure, texture and subtle flavours such as roasted nuts, spice and smoke. New oak has a stronger influence than older barrels. Using 57% new oak gives The Royals noticeable complexity without overwhelming its grapefruit, lime and white-peach characters. Thirty per cent of the wine was fermented in concrete egg. Concrete does not contribute woody flavour, allowing the fruit and mineral characteristics to remain clear. The rounded egg shape can also encourage the fine yeast lees to move naturally through the wine, helping build texture and complexity. The combination creates a Chardonnay with oak-derived richness and structure, balanced by citrus freshness, savoury definition and a finely textured finish.

Wild Yeast Fermentation

Wild yeast fermentation relies on naturally occurring yeasts from the grapes and winery instead of using only a commercially selected yeast strain. These fermentations can be slower and less predictable, but they may create additional layers of aroma, flavour and texture. In The Royals Chardonnay, wild fermentation supports the combination of grapefruit, baked lemon, honeycomb, smoke and savoury complexity. It also helps the finished wine retain an individual character reflecting the House of Cards vineyard and the conditions of the 2024 vintage.

Serving and Cellaring

• Serve House of Cards The Royals Chardonnay at approximately 10 to 12°C. Serving it directly from a very cold refrigerator may temporarily hide its fruit, texture and smoky complexity. Allow the bottle to stand outside the refrigerator for approximately 15 minutes before pouring.
• If the wine has been stored at normal Perth room temperature, refrigerate it for approximately 60 to 90 minutes before serving.
• The wine will benefit from some air while young. Opening the bottle approximately 20 minutes before serving will help reveal its grapefruit, white peach, honeycomb and savoury characters. Brief decanting is also suitable, particularly if the wine initially appears tight or dominated by flinty aromas.

Food Pairing 

• Grilled crayfish or lobster: Sweet shellfish complements the wine’s lemon curd and white-peach flavours, while the acidity keeps the pairing fresh.
• Oven-baked dhufish: The Chardonnay has enough texture for firm white fish, particularly when served with lemon, herbs or browned butter.
• Seared scallops: Honeycomb, integrated oak and citrus work beautifully with the sweetness and richness of scallops.
• Roast chicken: The smoky and nutty characters complement roasted flavours, while grapefruit acidity cuts through the richness.
• Pork with apple: White peach, baked lemon and gentle oak spice suit roast pork and apple-based sauces.
• Creamy seafood pasta: The wine has sufficient texture for cream-based sauces, with citrus acidity preventing the combination from becoming heavy.
• Mushroom risotto: Earthy mushrooms complement the wine’s smoky, savoury and nutty qualities.
• Roast cauliflower: Try it with toasted almonds, browned butter and fresh herbs.
• Firm cheese: Comté, Gruyère and mature cheddar complement its nuttiness, texture and integrated French oak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 95-point IWSC Gold Medal mean?

The International Wine & Spirit Competition evaluates wines through panels of experienced international judges. A score of 95 points places this Chardonnay within the IWSC Gold Medal category. It indicates an exceptional level of quality, concentration, balance, complexity and length. For the drinker, it provides independent confirmation that The Royals is a genuinely high-quality Margaret River Chardonnay.

What did the IWSC judges find in the wine?

The judges identified flinty gun smoke, crisp grapefruit and baked lemon on the nose. Across the palate, they found concentrated lime and lemon-curd flavours, accompanied by fresh herbs. These notes describe a Chardonnay with considerable flavour and texture, balanced by citrus freshness and savoury mineral complexity.

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. The grapes are pressed slowly and gently, producing clean juice while limiting the extraction of bitterness from the skins and seeds. This can help create a Chardonnay with freshness, refinement and a fine structural shape.

What is free-run juice?

Free-run juice is the first and most gently extracted juice obtained from the grapes. It generally contains fewer coarse compounds than juice obtained through heavier pressing. Selecting only this portion can produce a wine with greater purity and finer texture. In simple terms, House of Cards selected the most delicate juice for The Royals Chardonnay.

Why was some of the wine fermented in concrete egg?

Concrete egg does not add oak flavour. It helps retain fruit purity, freshness and mineral definition. The rounded shape can encourage the wine and fine yeast lees to circulate naturally, contributing texture without making the wine feel heavy. Using 30% concrete egg helps balance the richness and structure contributed by the French oak.

What is malolactic fermentation?

Malolactic fermentation converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid. This can give Chardonnay a rounder texture and contribute subtle creamy, buttery or nutty characters. Only 30% of The Royals completed malolactic fermentation. This adds texture while allowing the majority of the wine to retain its grapefruit and lime freshness.

Is The Royals Chardonnay rich or lean?

The Royals sits between the two styles. White peach, honeycomb, lemon curd and French oak provide richness and texture. Grapefruit, lime, fresh herbs and flinty minerality give the wine freshness and definition. The result is a concentrated Chardonnay that remains controlled rather than heavy.

Should I decant it?

Decanting is optional, but the wine should benefit from some air while young. Open the bottle approximately 20 minutes before serving. A brief decant may help if the wine initially appears tight or strongly flinty. Avoid serving it too cold, as very low temperatures will suppress its fruit and texture.