Astrolabe Wrekin Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2021/2023

Wrekin is a single vineyard located in Southern Valley of Marlborough, grown bay Jane & Andrew Johns. The vineyard has blocks of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc vines, nurtured with biodynamic principles. This particular dry Chenin Blanc is made by Simon Waghorn of Astrolabe Wines with the fruits sourced from this vineyard.

Wrekin vineyard has some of the oldest soil in Marlborough, tight clays based on glacial outwash. The Chenin Blanc’s block has a steep clay hillside with a northern aspect. The vines are trained in standard trellis, with pruning to two to four canes, and vertical shoot positioning. Vines are trimmed closely, well tucked and lightly leaf plucked. These methods keep the nutrients in the fruits, ensures the concentration of flavours in the juice.

The fruits of Chenin Blanc in 2021 vintage were picked from 30th March 2021, and it took a week to finish the harvest. All fruit had been hand-picked, whole cluster pressed, and only the cuveé juice (first 550L of juice from every ton of fruit) retained for fermentation in stainless steel and old barrels.

The combination of cultured and wild yeast, fermentation on light grape solids and lees stirring has added texture to the palate, and interesting complexity to the nose. The delicate fruit handling has given the wine a racy and crisp structure. On the nose, Chenin Blanc’s signature green apple and honeysuckle are quite overwhelming, with lemon honey and a little vanilla from the oak. On the palate, it’s a very well balanced wine, with medium-bodied, and a focused mineral length and flavours of crisp apple, lemon and peach.

Typically Chenin Blanc is not a wine to age, but if you carefully cellar this one for a few years, it will reward you with an extra enchanting honey note while the fruitiness still persisits.