MMAD Chenin Blanc Blewitt Springs 2023 Subtle

As a huge fan of Loire Valley, MMAD Chenin Blanc ticks the boxes but is also quite Australian in it's outlook. It is at once subtle and bold. It has a richness of fruit and weight that shows the old vines but also many layers and evolutions in the glass. Initially served very cold on a warm night. MMAD Chenin Blanc was refreshing and easy to drink. As it warms up more of its personality began to shine through, kind of like me I guess. Look for pear and floral notes with a savoury edge. The way MMAD Chenin Blanc matures with be fascinating to watch. MMAD Chenin Blanc Blewitt Springs 2023, and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts. MMAD is a partnership of four. Famously Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW who started Shaw + Smith together in 1989, along with winemaker Adam Wadewitz and Sales + Marketing head David LeMire MW. They have acquired a vineyard in the higher, cooler part of McLaren Vale; Blewitt Springs. The highlight of the vineyard is Grenache, planted in 1939, Chenin Blanc, planted in 1964, and Shiraz, planted in 1941. This is a recipe for great wines and of the range I have tasted to date, I have greatly enjoyed them all. MMAD Chenin Blanc Blewitt Springs 2023 Winery Notes “A late and cool growing season gave us smaller, more flavourful bunches and lifted aromatics. There is a richness and density of fruit on the mid-palate that reflects another year of our farming the vineyard, and lower yields. We are starting to uncover the full potential of these old vines. A mix of crushed and whole bunch pressed fruit was fermented in both concrete and large format old oak bring texture to the wine. The textured palate is balanced with a mineral, saline edge and long, pithy finish. Serving Temperature - 10 – 12°C Cellaring Potential - Has the concentration and structure to develop fine tertiary characters in bottle over the next 15 years“ Blewitt Springs There are a lot of people who believe that the sandy, ironstone-rich soils of Blewitt Springs are the best place in Australia for Grenache. Some would argue it rivals the best places in the world. With the modern style of Grenache being made from old vines, it is hard to argue the point. The aromatics, texture and complexity are evident and I am looking forward to trying more and more of the mature wines from Blewitt Springs. McLaren Vale The maritime climate and sandy soils of McLaren Vale make it a great place for growing grapes. Reds in particular excel here. Shiraz of course, but the Spanish varieties Grenache and Tempranillo seem well suited too. The maritime climate helps mitigate some of the heat from the SA summers and the sandy soils mean that phylloxera could not survive and so they have some of the oldest vines in the world. Chenin Blanc Chenin Blanc may not be the most popular or the most famous wine grape, but the good examples are seriously good! Lovely, fleshy/flowery apples and pears, a nice mineral – flinty streak, lemon zest and a touch of dough. I have always described good Chenin as feeling pillowy and I stand by that. Round and fluffy mouth feel but the zesty acid kicks it into shape. The Loire Valley is the home of great Chenin Blanc. Be it Sparkling wine, dry wine or sweet wine. Appellations such as Vouvray and Saviennieres are without peer for wines that age. The value, even for the top wines is second to none. Australian Wine The invasion of “Sunshine in a bottle” put Australian wine on the map.  The fruity, easy-going, somewhat samey wines were endearing for a short time. Then the next big thing knocked them off their perch. This forced producers to increase quality and emphasise the distinctive terroirs of Australia. Of which, there are many. And many more yet to be discovered. Wine Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years. The wine grape is special. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins. Human inputs can influence the final product, including the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too. The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. Terroir is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different. White Wine It is interesting to know that you can make white wine from almost any grape. The colour comes from the skins, and if there is no contact, there is no colour. White wines tend to be delicate, perfumed, higher in acid and lower in alcohol. It seems for this and many other reasons, it is hard to make an incredibly impressive white wine. But those that have mastered the art are indeed some of the best winemakers in the world. It is a falsehood to think that white wine does not age as well as red wine. But it is correct that white wine, as a rule, doesn’t age for as long. The Wine Depository I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door. MMAD Chenin Blanc Blewitt Springs 2023 MMAD Chenin Blanc Blewitt Springs 2023