Please enjoy this guest blog from Marri Wood Park
Chenin is the new twinkling white on the block. Margaret River Chenin is dry, crisp and mineral – but incredibly diverse.
In Margaret River, there have been two prevailing influences on the Chenin renaissance.
The first being the veteran winemakers who lived through the Chenin waves of the late 1960s and then the 80s and 90s when sweeter styles were on trend. They’ve seen the potential of the fruit, and are making it shine in a fresh new way.
Marri Wood Park owner Julian Wright planted his Chenin blocks at the Yallingup winery in the early 1990s. An undesirable varietal at the time, Julian was determined to create a ‘bone dry barrel fermented age-worthy Chenin that could make him famous’. The 30+ year old vines and distinctive form of viticulture here at Marri Wood Park are shining through today’s Chenin releases, and the aged bottles are building exceptional character.
The second driving force behind Chenin’s moment in the sun are the young guns, the new winemakers on the block who were buying the then untrendy grapes (sometimes getting them for free) and making their mark on the industry with a fresh new take on the traditional French varietal.
You can’t talk about Chenin in Margaret River without discussing Nic Peterkin. As head winemaker at Marri Wood Park, and an established winery and vineyard owner in his own right, his passion for the variety has created a swell of excitement at home in Western Australia and abroad.
Nic Peterkin is the son of one of Margaret River’s great wine pioneers, Dr Mike Peterkin. Mike planted the family’s Pierro vineyard in the golden zone of Wilyabrup in 1980, and he did so in a fairly unconventional way. That unconventional attitude has more than rubbed off on his son, who’s inaugural wines under his L.A.S wine label in 2013 included a biodynamic Chenin Blanc.
So, next time you find yourself in the south west, come into Origins Market, Busselton and try this classic French white wine at our Urban Cellar Door. Complimentary tastings are available at all the outlets in the cellar door ,Thurs – Sun from 10.00am.
