Chenin Blanc is one the world's noble grape varietals, whose spiritual home is the Loire Valley, France. It is very vigorous in the vineyard and requires constant supervision to keep yields in check. We grow these grapes on two distinctly different sites. The Wairau River Valley; gravel rich, free draining and devigourating soil profile and our Southern Valleys vineyard, a very special site with geologically older soils composed of crushed river stones, intermixed with clay.
The grapes were machine harvested in the cool of the night, cold settled before being racked into oak fuders for fermentation. The wine is then sulfured and left on its lees for 12 months to develop depth and character, before blending and bottling in early autumn.
Classic ripe Chenin Blanc notes on the nose of vanilla custard, lemon curd, ripe green apple, lemon blossom and a hint of biscuity lees character.
The taste; lemon curd, granny smith apple, dry straw and hints of marmite, while the palate, being full, rich and weighty, still retains Chenin's signature crisp acidity and clean, fresh finish.