Millton Te Arai Chenin Blanc 2021
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James
Suckling
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
With aromas of mango, tropical fruit, lime and green apple there is a mouth watering acidity complimented with a softening sweetness.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A bit reductive on the nose but with air you are greeted with aromas of white pepper, poppy seed and pears. Medium-bodied with pleasant complexity. Mineral notes mix with rounded citrus and pear notes. Subtle tannins keep it all together. Bright, fresh and seriously tasty.
Other Vintages
2018-
Wine
Enthusiast
In 1984 James and Annie Millton established The Millton Vineyard on the banks of the Te Arai River near Manutuke, where the early settlers first planted grapevines in 1871. This region is situated on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand in the wine appellation of Gisborne.
Originally Annie’s father, Mr John Clark, had developed vineyards on his estate at ‘Opou’ in Manutuke during the late 1960's. James and Annie returned to Gisborne after experience
gained in the famous wine regions of France and Germany including Champagne Bollinger, Maison Sichel in Bordeaux and Weingut Kurstner in Rheinhessen. By 1983 they had extensively researched and replanted major parts of the families’ grape growing business, before establishing The Millton Vineyard in 1984.
The Millton Vineyard’s three individual Gisborne vineyards; Opou, Te Arai and the Clos de Ste. Anne are located in Manutuke. The unique character of the appellation is its proximity to the influence of the Pacific Ocean together with the geologically youthful sedimentary soils. Cooling sea breezes keep the climate friendly and temperate in high summer. Traditional viticulture is practiced in all vineyards and all are dry-farmed, with no insecticide, herbicide, systemic fungicide or soluble fertilisers used.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
Occupying the North Island’s East Cape, Gisborne keeps The Bay of Plenty to its northwest and Hawkes Bay on its southwestern side. It is the country’s most distinctive producer of Chardonnay, with heavy investment here until Sauvignon blanc stole the country’s limelight. Gisborne produces soft and charming Chardonnay, boasting stone and tropical fruit flavors.
The region includes a good number of artisanal winemakers but many larger Auckland producers source from Gisborne for their own Chardonnay bottlings.