Amphora Chenin Blanc 2022

Tropical fruit notes of guava, mango with Green apple and dry razor finish.

The grapes were whole bunch pressed and fermented in old barrels. I made a vineyard starter (pied de cuve) with Chenin grapes that fermented naturally in the vineyard under the vines.

Most of the wine was aged in a small Tinaja (clay amphora) and the balance in old barrel. The wine is stirred every full moon to keep the yeasts active and to encourage primary fermentation, which finished in January 2022. No additions were done at any stage, including sulphur. The wine is unfiltered and unfined.

Two Terraces Vineyard, Mangatahi Terraces region in Hawke's Bay. Intermediate river terrace, coarse, sandy loam with red metal overlays. Low in fertility.

The grapes were foot crushed in picking bins and left to soak for 18 hours to extract phenolics. Whole bunch pressed into old barrels. I made a vineyard starter (pied de cuve) with Chenin grapes that fermented naturally in the vineyard under the vines. I then inoculated my barrels with this tasty juice! No additions, no fining, no filtration, no sulphur.