2021 Corofin “Wrekin Vineyard” Chardonnay, Marlborough, New Zealand

Established in 2011, Corofin represents the new venture of Mike Paterson, formerly of Jackson Estate, and his partner Anna, previously the GM at TerraVin. Despite being engaged in other projects and juggling the demands of raising their two young daughters, Corofin is already making its mark by producing two (soon to be three) single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, each crafted in minuscule 100-150-case batches. The winery's temporary setup at Fromm currently serves as the birthplace of these exceptional wines. Paterson's enthusiasm extends to growers who prioritize organic and/or biodynamic practices, believing that these vineyards serve as beacons of Marlborough's distinct character. In the winery, Paterson's artisanal touch shines through, employing techniques such as hand-harvesting, whole berry/cluster ferments, indigenous yeast fermentation, and aging the wines in 2-4 year old barrels without new wood, and no fining or filtration. The wines are incredibly lively and perfumed. Why do we like it? 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 malolactic. Creamy yet elegant Grape            Chardonnay Country        New Zealand                                  Region          Marlboroug                           Vintage         2021