Kalleske Florentine Chenin Blanc 2019 Tasting Notes from the winery

This single vineyard Chenin Blanc, sourced from mature vines on our Kalleske farm, is a vibrant fruit-driven wine. These old vines are one of the few remaining Chenin blanc vineyards in the Barossa. Grapes were harvested in the cool night and gently pressed for fermentation to provide a naturally varietal yet complex wine. It gains its name from Caroline ‘Florentine’ Kalleske, the first daughter of Johann Georg Kalleske who migrated to Australia from Prussia in 1838. Florentine is a genuine hand crafted wine that’s been grown, vintaged and matured on our Kalleske estate at Greenock in the North-Western Barossa.

GROWING SEASON

Quality from 2019 is stunning. It was a warm and extremely dry growing season with rainfall down significantly (39%), making it one of the driest years in the past century. Summer was 3 degrees warmer than average. Yields were impacted by the dry season, leading to smaller berries and bunches. Importantly quality is brilliant producing richly flavoured, intense wines.

VINEYARD

Florentine is from a single vineyard of Chenin Blanc on the Kalleske property that was planted in 1988. The vines are low yielding and soil is shallow sand with clay subsoil.

WINEMAKING

The grapes were harvested in the cool of the night on February 25th. They were then pressed and the juice was briefly settled prior to racking to fermentation. The juice was cooly fermented in tank for fourteen days. The wine was bottled immediately after primary fermentation whilst young and fresh to retain utmost vibrancy.

TASTING NOTES

Florentine 2019 is light-straw in colour with a green tint. The aroma is lively with gooseberry, quince, fresh-cut apple, lime citrus, hay and a touch of lavender. The light-bodied palate is fresh and juicy with white peach, pear and subtle passionfruit. It is impeccably balanced, displaying a hint of slatey minerality and integrated acidity. Fresh fruits dominate throughout and continue through the lengthy finish. Florentine can be enjoyed now but will cellar gracefully.

(SKU: KA_CBl_19)