2023 Vinework Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc (100%)

2023

Margaret River

The growing season began with a late budburst after a relatively cold winter with reasonable rainfall. The cool, wet spring which followed meant an extended flowering period for early bloomers, but with good fruit-set for most varieties. There was a complete lack of Marri blossom leading up to and during harvest which meant that bird pressure was extreme! The cool, late start to the growing season delayed ripening on most varieties, however the very dry, mild summer which followed offered perfect ripening conditions allowing fruit to retain wonderful natural acidity. This is our fourth Chenin Blanc release and is produced from a small parcel of fruit from a mature, single vineyard in Yallingup subregion of Margaret River.

Pale straw with slight green tinge.

The bouquet displays fresh gala apples, pears and loquats with delicate wafts of lanolin and underlying flinty barrel ferment characters adding complexity.

The palate offers a wonderful array of nashi pear and crunchy tropical fruits, which combine with a bright moreish acidity. A subtle saline/oyster shell thread also provides a lovely savoury foil to the tangy, natural fruit sweetness.

13.0%

750ml

3.16

The fruit was pressed, without any crushing, followed by 100%-barrel fermentation in French oak barriques (7% new). Wild fermentation was encouraged to introduce more complexity and barrels were regularly lees stirred, without any malolactic fermentation. throughout a brief three-month oak maturation period. The best barrels were then selected for the final blend.