'Slim Pickings' - Chenin Blanc 2023

So often in winemaking the saying “less is more” becomes apparent and this was certainly the case with this vineyard-

A few select rows of dry grown organically managed Chenin Blanc was picked early February.

Vintage 2023 proved to be slightly later than usual with fewer heat waves than the previous vintage,

This allowed for longer hang times of fruit on the vines and lovely high natural acidity’s. As this small vineyard is un-irrigated and grown on well drained sandy gravel soils this resulted in intense concentration of flavour. These soils dont retain much water.

With tiny berries and gentle basket pressing juice extraction was low so the name Slim Pickings felt right.

Whole bunches basket pressed to older neutral oak for wild fermentation. Left on lees for 9 months before being bottled unfined and ulfiltered.