Coonawara / McClaren Vale

Leconfield is a remarkable family wine business owned by Dr Richard Hamilton and his wife Jette. It encompasses two of South Australia's leading wine labels, both attributable to the Hamilton family:
Leconfield Wines at Coonawarra.
Richard Hamilton Wines at McLaren Vale.
With a strong wine industry heritage dating from 1837, the family has developed a distinguished international reputation for elegant fine wines. Leconfield wines are based on a simple philosophy – great wines are crafted from great vineyards. Inspired by his viticulturist father Burton, Richard Hamilton, fifth generation wine grower, established his own winery and vineyards at McLaren Vale in 1972.

Since then, Richard and his wife Jette have built up their vineyard holdings, some of which are in excess of 100 years old. These holdings are comprised not only of Burton’s McLaren Vale vineyards but also his Uncle Sydney’s winery and vineyards in Coonawarra.

Coonawarra is one of Australia’s great wine regions, renowned for its rich terra rossa soil - red brown loam topsoil laid over a thin layer of calcrete, sitting on top of a base of the region’s abundance of white limestone. It is situated 100km inland and is 30km long. The region has a predominately maritime climate, with dry and moderately cool summer days and cool to cold nights. Meteorological data shows a climate similar to that of Bordeaux in France. Undoubtedly, Coonawarra produces Australia's greatest Cabernet Sauvignon. The concentrated fruit flavours cover the spectrum from blackcurrant to plum to red cherry to prunes, with a unique Coonawarra earthiness. The wines are renowned for their depth of fruit flavour, complexity, elegance, extraordinary length and their cellaring performance. Coonawarra is also renowned for its stylish Shiraz and Merlot. Riesling and Chardonnay are the two predominant white varieties, with the region producing some of the nation’s finest examples of these styles.

Leconfield’s first Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted on September 28, 1974, by Sydney Hamilton. Since acquiring Leconfield in 1981, Richard Hamilton has added to the original landholding and plantings. The total vineyard size now stands at 43.7 hectares. Bendt Rasmussen, who has over 20 years’ experience, manages the vineyard.

2011 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion

The results are in!
Each year James Halliday releases his highly respected Australian Wine Companion, the 2011 results are in and we have achieved fantastic results. Richard Hamilton has been awarded red 5 star winery status (5 star rated winery for at least 3 consecutive years) and Leconfield 4½ star winery status.