MMAD Chenin Blanc 2022
60% of the fruit is taken from the 1964 plantings, and 40% from 1990 plantings. Whilst old-vine material is cherished and provides great intensity, winemaker Adam Wadewitz stresses the importance of the 1990 contribution, providing freshness and a counterpoint to the denser, older material.
There's a lot on offer here: quince, dried apricot, dried peach, bronzed orchard fruit. Quite a lot of deep concentration of fruit, but with good direction. It's fleshy with salivating acidity but not even close to over-blown. Texturally, too, it holds quite a presence. It'll be fascinating to see which direction this takes as it ages, but with some much attractive primary fruit already on full display, I’d encourage you to drink some over summer. - Ches Cook, FWC.
I’m a bit blown away. Instead of being the steak knives in the range this vies for top spot. It has flavour and texture but it’s the way brine and smoky, reductive characters play in with the fruit that really gets you in. This is a sophisticated white wine. It’s all river stones and nashi pear, apple and cedar, though it’s defined by its smoke/salt/stone characters. It’s also exceptionally poised, dry and tense, all of which suggest that it has a seriously good future ahead of it. Drink 2024-2031. 96 Points. Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front.