Kalleske Florentine Chenin Blanc: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Bright & crunchy

A bright, light-bodied Chenin Blanc with clear varietal character and a strong acid line. Green apple, thyme, lime cordial, jasmine flower and a touch of flint lead the nose. The palate is juicy and precise, showing white stone fruits, citrus pith and a faint leafy edge, with a sorbet-like line of acidity running throughout. A sliver of oiliness is checked by stony minerality, and the finish is long, clean and vivid. It is a direct, energetic style that keeps refreshment front and centre.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable
• Crafted by Kalleske — a seventh-generation Barossa family estate at Greenock
• Green apple, thyme, lime cordial, jasmine flower, white stone fruits and flint
• Single-vineyard Chenin Blanc from one of the few remaining mature Chenin vineyards in the Barossa
• Previous vintages have earned strong review history, including 92 points from Mike Bennie for the 2019 release
• 12.0% ABV

Tasting Notes

Florentine is a vibrant, fruit-driven Chenin Blanc with a classic green-apple and quince-like brightness, though here the fruit sits more in the green apple, white stone fruit and citrus spectrum. Thyme, lime cordial, jasmine flower and a touch of flint keep the nose lifted and detailed. The palate is light-bodied and juicy, with citrus pith, a subtle leafy edge and a long sorbet-like acid line that gives the wine real energy. A slight oily texture adds interest, but the overall impression stays crisp, stony and highly drinkable.

Winemaking

The grapes were harvested in the cool of night on 4 March, then gently pressed. The juice was briefly settled before racking and cool fermentation in tank for nine days. There is no oak influence here; the wine was bottled immediately after primary fermentation while young and fresh in order to preserve vibrancy, varietal clarity and the bright fruit profile.

Vineyard & Vintage

Florentine comes from a single Chenin Blanc vineyard on the Kalleske property at Greenock, planted in 1988. These mature vines are among the few remaining Chenin Blanc vineyards in the Barossa. The soils are shallow sand over clay subsoil, which helps keep vine growth in check while retaining enough moisture for balanced ripening. The 2024 growing season described on the current winery notes was excellent, with a slightly warmer, drier winter and spring followed by average summer temperatures, timely rainfall and no extreme heat, leading to balanced crops and steady ripening through to mid-autumn.

Why We Love It

This is a focused, no-frills Chenin Blanc that leans into freshness, minerality and drinkability rather than texture or oak. The acid line is the key here, giving the wine real drive and making it especially useful with food. It also offers something a little different within the Kalleske range, showing a lighter, more taut side of the estate.

Food Pairing

The combination of bright acidity, citrus pith and light body makes this a natural fit for seafood, salads and lighter dishes with herbs or a saline edge. It also suits simple vegetable dishes where a richer white would be too much. Try matching this wine with →

• Grilled prawns with lemon and herbs — Find a Recipe
• Goat’s cheese tart — Find a Recipe
• Zucchini fritters — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A useful bottle for warm afternoons, seafood lunches and any time you want something light, precise and more brisk than broad.

Cellaring

The winery notes that Florentine can be enjoyed now but will cellar gracefully for a decade or more. That fits the wine’s strong acid line and clean fruit profile, though it is also very appealing in youth for its freshness and energy.

Producer

Kalleske is a seventh-generation family estate at Greenock in the north-western Barossa Valley, farming continuously since 1853. The vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic, and all fruit is estate grown. Florentine is named after Caroline ‘Florentine’ Kalleske, the first daughter of Johann Georg Kalleske, who migrated to Australia from Prussia in 1838. That family history matters here because Florentine is not just another white in the range; it is a genuine estate-grown, single-vineyard wine from one of the few remaining mature Chenin Blanc sites in the Barossa, made in a direct, hands-on style to preserve freshness and varietal clarity.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy this bright, acid-driven white style, these are worth comparing:

• From the same producer, a broader textural Chenin blend — Kalleske Congruous Chenin Blanc Semillon
• Another aromatic white with crisp drive from a different producer — Tscharke Girl Talk Savagnin Grenache Blanc Albariño
• Fresh estate Semillon with a similarly bright profile — Kalleske Elenore Semillon

FAQ

What does Kalleske Florentine Chenin Blanc taste like?

It shows green apple, thyme, lime cordial, jasmine flower and a touch of flint on the nose, with white stone fruits, citrus pith and a leafy edge through the palate. It is light-bodied, bright and very fresh, with a long acid-driven finish.

Is this wine dry?

It sits around the very dry to just-off-dry end of the spectrum. The specs list around 7 g/L residual sugar, but the strong acid line keeps the wine tasting crisp and not noticeably sweet.

How full-bodied is it?

This is a light-bodied white. It has a slight oily texture through the palate, but overall the style stays brisk, taut and refreshing rather than broad.

Does it need decanting?

No. This wine is made to show freshness and precision straight from the bottle.

What temperature and glassware work best?

Serve it at around 8–10°C in a medium white wine glass. Too cold will mute the aromatics; slightly warmer service lets the floral, herbal and flinty notes show better.

Can this wine be cellared?

Yes. The winery notes it can cellar gracefully for a decade or more, which is plausible given the acidity and the wine’s clean structural line.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

It is not a No Added Preservative wine, so it does contain sulphites. Some occur naturally during fermentation, and certified organic and biodynamic wines are made under lower permitted sulphite levels than conventional wines.

Is this wine vegan friendly?

Yes, it is listed as vegan suitable. It is also certified organic and certified biodynamic.

What food works best with this wine?

It works well with grilled prawns, goat’s cheese, vegetable fritters, salads and lighter seafood dishes. Foods that benefit from bright acidity and a clean finish are the best match.

Who is this wine likely to suit?

It will suit drinkers who enjoy Chenin Blanc, crisp Semillon or other acid-driven whites with minerality and freshness. If you want a white that is lively and precise rather than creamy or oaked, this is a strong fit.

(SKU: KA_CBl_CV)