Corofin Marlborough Chardonnay 2021

Organic. The first release of Corofin’s Marlborough ‘Villages’ Chardonnay was sourced from two sites in the Brancott Valley: the Wrekin Vineyard (70%) and the Folium Vineyard (30%). Planted by Fromm in 1996, the Folium Vineyard is an organically tended site on Southern Valley clay (around 1.5 metres deep with gravelly silt on top). The site is dry-grown, and Corofin works with just five rows, a total of 1,200 vines. The brilliant Wrekin Vineyard is a small, organically certified (Biogro) and biodynamically farmed site at the top of the Brancott Valley.

In ’21, both blocks were hand-harvested on the 6th of March. At the winery, the fruit was slowly whole-bunch pressed into a tank for six hours before the juice was transferred with lots of solids to seasoned French oak puncheons and two stainless steel barrels for fermentation. The wine remained on lees in these vessels for 13 months before it was racked to tank for another four months. It saw full malo and was bottled unfiltered and unfined. 

What an impressive first release. Showcasing the intensity and drive of the low-yielding vintage, the nose is awash with enticing stone fruits, grilled nuts and a wisp of smoky reduction. The full-flavoured palate flows beautifully and is shot through with snappy acidity and mouth-watering phenolic grip before a potent, layered and lengthy close. It’s a great first release from Corofin in a generous style.