Esk Valley Artisanal Hawkes Bay Chenin Blanc 2020

Esk Valley Artisanal Hawkes Bay Chenin Blanc 2020French oak Dry style Baked apple Citrus & honey "Already delicious, the debut 2020 vintage (5*) was harvested from young vines, grown inland at Mangatahi, and partly barrel fermented. Bright, light lemon green, it is invitingly scented and beautifully vibrant, with strong passionfruit and pineapple flavours, balanced acidity, just a hint of sweetness, and excellent delicacy, depth and harmony. An intensely varietal wine, it's one of the country's

• French oak
• Dry style
• Baked apple
• Citrus & honey

"Already delicious, the debut 2020 vintage (5*) was harvested from young vines, grown inland at Mangatahi, and partly barrel-fermented. Bright, light lemon/green, it is invitingly scented and beautifully vibrant, with strong passionfruit and pineapple flavours, balanced acidity, just a hint of sweetness, and excellent delicacy, depth and harmony. An intensely varietal wine, it's one of the country's finest Chenin Blancs yet. Drink now or cellar" Michael Cooper

"Pure fruited bouquet with scents of green apple and lees textures, crumbled stones with a light flinty edge and white blossoms. Equally pure fruits with flavours of apple and lemon, a touch of pith then mineral and lees attributes that reflect the  bouquet. Pristine polished acid line, a white flower and mineral quality and a long refreshing finish. Beautifully made, balanced and ready to drink from 2021 through 2026+" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, May 2021

"Youthfully attractive and elegantly lifted, the bouquet shows crunchy apple, white flesh peach and lemon peel aromas with a hint of flinty complexity. It's finely focused and linear on the palate displaying bright fruit flavours backed by firm acidity, finishing long and crisp-dry. At its best: now to 2026" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, May 2021

This wine reveals classic Chenin Blanc notes of baked apple, citrus and honey. It is dry in style with a full and rich palate, enhanced by long term ageing on yeast lees. 

This is a single vineyard wine from the Two Terraces Vineyard situated inland at Mangatahi. The Chenin Blanc plantings are located on the lower of the two gravel river terraces formed by the Ngaruroro River. Two clones of Chenin Blanc (220 and 880) are planted, with each providing its own distinctive characteristics to the finished wine. Planted in 2017, these vines are intensively managed in the pursuit of quality wine.

The fruit was picked at 22 brix pre lockdown on the 23rd March 2020. It was pressed lightly, settled overnight and run to a mix of large format oak barrels and small tanks for fermentation with wild yeast. The tank fermented portion was stopped with a small amount of residual sugar to provide richness to the final blend. The wine was aged on its lees with regular stirring until being blended in February 2021.

Food Pairing: It is delicious as a young wine but will gain complexity with time in the bottle and will make the perfect accompaniment to seafood dishes.