CHENIN BLANC
“Sooner or later, everything old is new again.”
“This is especially true for Chenin and the resurgence we are seeing across the country. Small producers are flocking to it and the versatility it provides. Sparkling, dry, off dry, oaked, unoaked, sweet and botrytised expressions are all possible…
Chenin has great aging potential and during my time at Coriole I was lucky enough to taste some amazing examples with 40+ years on them, still crisp dry and balanced.”
Alex Sherrah
Winemaker – Sherrah Wines
2022 Voyager Estate Sparkling
Chenin Blanc
Margaret River, WA
Nose: Fresh sweet citrus fruit, red apple, meringue
Palate: Lemon zest, grapefruit, meringue, crisp acidity
Food Match: Aperitif, cheese boards or light snacks
“Our certified organic Weightmans Block 1 vineyard produces Chenin Blanc fruit with incredible purity and freshness – perfect for crafting a uniquely Western Australian aperitif style sparkling that suits our sunny climate and lifestyle.”
Tim Shand – Chief Winemaker
*Only available in NSW & QLD*
2022 Sherrah Pet Nat
Fiano/Chenin Blanc
McLaren Vale, SA
Handmade and hand-bottled for fun times with friends.
Lively lemon and lime citrus notes mix with freshly squeezed apple and pear. A dry style with fresh natural acidity.
The Fiano comes from two vineyards in McLaren Vale. One in the Tatachilla sub region of southern McLaren Vale. Only a few kilometres from the sea and almost at sea level, it is a cool maritime influenced area of the Vale. These grapes were pressed and fermented in seasoned white barrels.
The second vineyard is in the Northern and high-altitude region of Seaview in McLaren Vale, with thin red loam over a solid limestone geology. The grapes were harvested with a selective harvester and tipped straight into an open fermenter as whole berries. Fermentation was allowed to occur naturally and ticked away slowly for approx. 3 weeks.
The final blend was 40% skin contact and 30% barrel ferment Fiano, with 30% tank fermented Chenin Blanc.
2022 Kalleske ‘Florentine’ Chenin Blanc
Barossa Valley, SA
Certified Organic
This single vineyard Chenin Blanc, sourced from mature vines on the Kalleske Farm, is a vibrant fruit-driven wine. These old vines are one of the few remaining Chenin Blanc vineyards in the Barossa. Grapes were harvested in the cool of the night and gently pressed for fermentation to provide a naturally varietal yet complex wine. It gains its name from Carolin ‘Florentine’ Kalleske, the first daughter of Johann Georg Kalleske who migrated to Australia from Prussia in 1838.
The lifted aromatics show lime zest, white peach, gooseberry, quince, and pear. Its all-round freshness is very inviting. This fruity freshness continues to the palate, which is all about the bright fruit, given there is no oak maturation. There are notes of lemon curd and melon with a background of grapefruit pith adding texture and dryness. A splice of minerality adds further drive and line to the clean juicy palate. The finish is lengthy with lingering crunchy fruits.
2023 Sherrah Chenin Blanc
McLaren Vale, SA
McLaren Vale Chenin was most likely used in fortifieds early on, but dry white wine styles emerged in the 60’s.
The diverse geology and climate provides perfect plantings for Chenin, with this wine coming from the slightly higher Blewitt Springs region, grown on deep sands at the bottom of rolling hill, sheltered from hot afternoon sun.
Acidity is key, so picking is on the earlier side aiming for bright citrus, stone fruit and blossom fragrance. They play with barrel and tank ferments in order to get the interplay between chalky dry minerality and batonnage derived mouth filling texture just right.
“Winemaker/owner Alex Sherrah has plenty of vintages around Australia and indeed the world ‘under his belt’ and he is now well and truly entrenched in McLaren Vale. Alex is playing with alternative varieties such as fiano and nero d’avola, as well as the more mainstream such as shiraz and grenache. Chenin blanc sits in the middle, neither alternative or mainstream (yet).
There’s a lovely combination of snappy acidity, citrus and layered, nutty oak here. It’s a most satisfying wine.
Lifted aromas of citrus pith, mineral, salt spray and white flowers. Textured, mouth-filling and with plenty of layers of flavour. Citrus and stone fruit are at play along with a complex creamy, nuttiness. The acidity has brightness and crunch and there’s a decent lick of phenolic grip.”
The Real Review
2023 Voyager Estate Chenin Blanc
Margaret River, WA
Certified Organic
Pressed to tank on arrival into the winery to ensure aromatics were preserved. Juice was then settled to aid clarification, innoculated and fermented in a combination of stainless steel to retain the fresh fruit profile, and older French oak puncheons, to give texture to the palate.
Nose: Honeysuckle, quince, red apple, lavender, musk
Palate: Dried apricot, quince skin, minerality, gentle grip
“A classic style with a contemporary mindset, displaying fruit intensity and nuance, from our certified organic Chenin Blanc vines.”
Tim Shand, Chief Winemaker
*Only available in NSW & QLD*
2020 Amisfield Chenin Blanc
Central Otago, NZ
Hand harvested and whole bunch pressed. Settled 48 hours then racked 50% to stainless steel tank to ferment cool over 15 days. The balance fermented naturally in old French barriques.
Complex aromatics of green apple and lemon meringue complemented with rock melon and a touch of Vietnamese mint. The palate is energetic with a juiciness from the barrel fermented component. The finish is long, with honeydew and lanolin backed by a saline minerality. A striking wine that shows a serious, drier side to Chenin Blanc.