Astrolabe Wrekin Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2018

Aroma - Green apple and honeysuckle, with lemon honey and a little vanilla from the oak.

Palate - Medium-bodied, with a focused, mineral length and flavours of crisp apple, lemon and peach.

A slightly elevated river terrace of deep silt loam interspersed with fragmented limestone. Standard trellis with pruning to two canes and vertical shoot positioning. Vines are trimmed closely, well tucked, and leaf plucking is minimal. Cluster thinning is used to ensure light crops, evenly ripened and balanced fruit.

The 2017-2018 growing season was the warmest since the first grapes were planted in Marlborough in 1973. Temperatures were 1.1 degrees over the long-term average. It was wetter than normal January through March and made tricky by three extended rain events. A dry period between late February and late March helped the grapes get through in reasonable condition, and the health of the canopies ensured good flavour development.