The Smoking Gun Chenin Blanc 2022

Tasting Notes 🍷

• Colour: Pale gold with a subtle haze, indicative of minimal filtration.
• Nose: Aromas of flint, wet stone, and a hint of smoky reduction.
• Palate: Crisp acidity frames flavors of green apple, pear, and a touch of chamomile, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish.

Winemaking Process

The 2022 vintage was entirely barrel-fermented using wild yeasts, enhancing the wine’s texture and complexity. The wine was left on its lees for several months, contributing to its mouthfeel and depth. Minimal intervention and the absence of fining or filtration preserve the wine’s authentic character.

Vintage Description

The 2022 growing season in Margaret River featured moderate temperatures, allowing for slow, even ripening. This resulted in Chenin Blanc grapes with balanced acidity and concentrated flavors, ideal for producing a wine of this caliber.

Blend

• Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc

Harvested

• Date: Early March 2022

Pressing

• Method: Gentle whole-bunch pressing to preserve fruit purity

Fermentation

• Vessel: French oak barrels
• Yeast: Indigenous (wild) yeasts

Maturation

• Duration: 6 months on lees
• Vessel: French oak barrels

Bottled

• Date: September 2022

Analysis

• Alcohol: 11.5%
• pH: 3.13
• Total Acidity: 6.77 g/L
• Residual Sugar: 1.92 g/L

Food Pairing Suggestions 🍽️

• Cuisine: Chinese takeaway, especially sweet and sour pork
• Cheese: Aged goat cheese
• Seafood: Grilled scallops with a citrus glaze

Cellaring

This wine is enjoyable upon release but will develop additional complexity over the next 5-10 years.

FAQ Wine Terms 🤔

• Chenin Blanc: A versatile white grape variety originating from the Loire Valley in France, known for its high acidity and ability to produce a range of wine styles.
• Barrel Fermentation: The process of fermenting wine in oak barrels, which can impart additional flavors and textures to the wine.
• Lees: Dead yeast cells and grape solids that settle at the bottom of the fermentation vessel; aging wine on lees can enhance its texture and flavor complexity.
• Indigenous Yeasts: Naturally occurring yeasts present on grape skins and in the winery environment, used for fermentation to reflect the vineyard’s unique microbiome.

Serving Temperature 🌡️

• Optimal: 10°C
• Chilling Instructions: Leave out of the fridge for 5 minutes before drinking.
• Decanting: Not necessary; however, allowing the wine to breathe for a few minutes can enhance its aromatic profile.

Learn About Goon Tycoons

GOON | TYCOONS is the brainchild of three blokes who, like Liam Neeson, each have a very particular set of skills—skills they’ve honed over long careers. Skills dedicated to crafting fantastic wines for people like you. Julian Langworthy is the winemaker, John Fogarty is the viticulturist, and Mark Fogarty counts the cash.

Having spent most of their lives in the wine industry, this is their chance to tinker with the Margaret River model and showcase the smaller vineyards they stumble upon.

Dancing on the edge of stupidity and sensibility, their wines are made to celebrate unique varieties and grower sites uncovered in their endless quest for great vineyards—without compromising quality. Natural is best, but technique reigns supreme. The boys are let loose from their day jobs to launch their own brand, let’s say they’re Out & About on Good Behaviour.

This is their chance to enjoy the ride. This is their chance to Get Rich, or Drunk Trying.