2022 L.A.S. Vino Chenin Blanc

VINEYARD
A combination of three vineyards. 
A certified organic and biodynamic site planted in 1992 at the northern end of the cape. The vines sprawl everywhere, and pigs, geese, guinea fowl and cows roam free. The site faces north with a little creek running through the middle of the vineyard.  Native flowers and plants grow under the rows with no herbicides or pesticides sprayed and no cultivation. There were two seperate picks for this vineyard 20 days apart included in this wine. 
 
The second vineyard is grown in Willyabrup vines planted in 1980 in granite rich red gravelly loam soils. Sitting on the banks of the Willyabrup brook with very loose bunches on a cool site at 50m above sea level .
 
The third vineyard is just around the corner and also grown in Willyabrup. with vines planted in 1988. Although its not yet possible to test we think this clone of chenin is slightly different to the other 2 with big tight bunches. Grown in gravelly loam at 80m above sea level. 
 
WINEMAKING
The fruit was hand picked and showed varied levels of ripeness through both vineyards. The fruit was chilled overnight and hand sorted prior to being lightly cold pressed as whole bunches. The juice was left to naturally settle prior to a wild fermentation in french barriques. A partial malolactic fermentation on some barrels and fortnightly lees stirring prior to being bottled with no fining and a light filtration.
 
TASTE 
The CBDB is a single vineyard, single varietal wine, in contrast the L.A.S. Vino Chenin Blanc is a little more diverse. We have chenin blanc from three seperate vineyards, all within Margaret River, There is a a touch of chardonnay (3%) and a touch of sauvignon blanc (3%) in the mix too which creates complexity and character.