Decibel Wines Chenin Blanc
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Hawke’s Bay lies on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The region enjoys dry summers with moderate, cool nights.
- Decibel Chenin Blanc is from a single vineyard owned and operated by Ian and Linday Quinn and grown in the Mangatahi Terraces, near the small rural township of Maraekakaho. The soils contain volcanic deposits from past eruptions on the volcanic plateau in the central North Island.
- Lower night time temperatures of the inland site produce wines in a cooler climate style with good aromatics and elegant structure.
- Organic, vegan friendly and certified sustainable.
Varietal Composition: 100% Chenin Blanc
Elaboration: Destemmed and pressed into two 500L puncheons and one 600L demi-muid. Wild fermentation until almost dry, just one barrel finished up with a touch of sweetness. This added just 1.5 g/L of residual sugar to the entire blend, giving a subtle roundness to balance the bright acidity. The wine was unfined and crossflow filtered before bottling.
Tasting Notes: Complex but fruity nose leads with white peach, green apple, and a hint of cinnamon spice. The palate is firm with plenty of fresh pear and crisp lemon tart with a long mineral core. While the fruit is opulent, it also has firm acidity with a lengthy finish resulting in a wine that will drink well young but age for many years to come.
PRESS
n/a
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Daniel (dB) Brennan, a native of New Jersey, founded Decibel Wines in 2008 in Hastings, New Zealand, a city on the east coast of the North Island, in the Hawke’s Bay region. After touring Europe and America as manager of a rock band, he found himself at his family’s restaurant in Philadelphia where he was inspired by his Sicilian grandfather, a cooper and winemaker, to trade music for wine.
He arrived in his adopted country virtually penniless but with determination to bring his vision to life. He studied Oenology & Viticulture in Hawke’s Bay and worked with some of the region’s top producers, as well as at wineries and vineyards in California, Oregon, and Italy.