Lenton Brae In Good Hands Chenin Blanc 2025

Awards and Reviews

94 Points Cyndal Petty, Winepilot

“A mouthful of sunshine and sherbet dreams.”

Petty praised its white pineapple, meadow flowers and starfruit, along with the texture created by extended lees contact and parcels fermented in older oak. She also noted its gentle phenolic structure, savoury character and refreshing acidity.

Recommended drinking: 2025 to 2029

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Pale straw with bright green-gold highlights.
• Aromatics: Mandarin, white pineapple, kiwi fruit and starfruit are lifted by delicate jasmine, honeysuckle and meadow-flower fragrances.
• Palate: Dry, vibrant and refreshing, with zesty lime and tropical fruit flowing into a subtly creamy middle palate.
• Texture: Nine months on lees provide softness and depth, while gentle phenolics give the wine a fine, food-friendly grip.
• Savoury character: Subtle notes of apricot kernel, coastal minerals and native florals add complexity beneath the fruit.
• Acidity: Lively, delicate acidity gives the wine energy and keeps its creamy texture feeling fresh.
• Finish: Long, savoury and salivating, with lingering citrus, tropical fruit and a lightly spicy edge.

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2025
• Variety: Chenin Blanc
• Region: Margaret River, Western Australia
• Fruit source: A vineyard east of Cowaramup
• Fermentation: 80% stainless steel and 20% older French oak hogsheads
• Lees maturation: Nine months
• Alcohol: 12.0%
• Style: Dry white wine
• Volume: 750ml
• Cellaring: Enjoy now or cellar for up to 10 years
• Recommended serving temperature: 9 to 11°C

A Textural Style of Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc can produce everything from light, crisp white wines to rich, sweet and long-lived styles. This release sits firmly in the dry and refreshing category, but its extended time on lees gives it more texture and depth than a simple young white wine.

The variety naturally retains excellent acidity. This provides the mouthwatering freshness running through the wine and allows Lenton Brae to build creaminess through lees contact without making the palate feel broad or heavy.

Its citrus and tropical fruit characters remain bright and clearly defined, while delicate florals, apricot kernel and savoury notes add interest beyond the immediate fruit.

The result is an energetic white wine with enough texture for the dining table and enough freshness for warm afternoons.

Winemaking

The freshly harvested grapes were processed immediately to preserve the quality and freshness of the juice.

After settling in tank, the clear juice was separated from the heavier grape solids and fermentation began. When fermentation had progressed to approximately 8 Baume, 20% of the wine was transferred into older French oak hogsheads.

The remaining 80% continued fermenting in stainless steel, retaining the bright fruit, floral aromatics and lively acidity of the Chenin Blanc.

After fermentation, the wine remained on its lees for nine months. These two parcels were then blended together before bottling.

This approach creates a balance between two contrasting qualities:

• Stainless steel preserves freshness, purity and vibrant fruit.
• Older French oak introduces gentle oxygen exposure and builds texture without strong oak flavour.
• Extended lees contact adds creaminess, savoury complexity and greater length.

What Nine Months on Lees Brings to the Wine

Lees are primarily the spent yeast cells remaining after fermentation has finished.

Leaving wine in contact with its lees can gradually add texture and complexity. In this Chenin Blanc, nine months of lees contact helps create the subtle creamy middle palate noted by both the winery and Winepilot.

This does not make the wine sweet. Instead, it gives the dry palate a rounder and more satisfying texture while preserving the variety’s naturally mouthwatering acidity.

Lees contact can also introduce delicate savoury, nutty or bread-like complexity, although these characters remain subtle in this fruit-driven style.

Serving and Cellaring

• Serve Lenton Brae In Good Hands Chenin Blanc at approximately 9°C. If the bottle has been stored at room temperature, refrigerate it for around 90 minutes before serving. Avoid serving it ice cold, as very low temperatures can hide its floral aromas and creamy texture.
• The wine does not require decanting, although allowing it to open in the glass for 10 to 15 minutes will help reveal its more delicate floral and savoury characters.
• Winepilot recommends enjoying it between 2025 and 2029, while Lenton Brae suggests the wine can be cellared for up to 10 years. Over time, its fresh citrus and tropical fruit should gradually develop into richer notes of honey, preserved lemon, nuts and gentle toast.

Food Pairing Suggestions

• Ceviche: Bright acidity and citrus fruit complement raw fish dressed with lime and fresh herbs.
• Seared scallops: The subtle creamy texture works beautifully with the sweetness and softness of scallops.
• White-fleshed fish: Try it with grilled snapper, barramundi or dhufish.
• Grilled prawns: Tropical fruit and mouthwatering acidity balance garlic, chilli and charred flavours.
• Thai salads: Lime, herbs, chilli and salty dressings pair naturally with the wine’s freshness and floral lift.
• Roast chicken: Its lees-derived texture has enough weight for roast chicken without overwhelming it.
• Goat cheese: Fresh acidity cuts through the richness while complementing the cheese’s tangy flavour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Chenin Blanc dry or sweet?

This is a dry Chenin Blanc.

Its tropical fruit and floral aromas can create an impression of sweetness, but the palate is refreshing, savoury and driven by lively acidity.

What does Chenin Blanc taste like?

Chenin Blanc can produce many different styles depending on where and how it is made.

This Margaret River example shows mandarin, lime, kiwi fruit, white pineapple and starfruit, supported by floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle. Extended lees contact adds a subtle creamy texture and savoury complexity.

Why was the wine kept on lees for nine months?

Lees are the spent yeast cells left behind after fermentation.

Keeping the wine in contact with these lees helps build texture, creaminess and complexity. It gives the Chenin Blanc greater depth without requiring large amounts of new oak.

Does lees ageing make the wine sweet?

No. Lees contact changes the texture and complexity of the wine, not its sugar level.

This remains a dry white wine, with vibrant acidity balancing its creamy middle palate.

Will this wine taste heavily oaked?

No. Only 20% of the wine was fermented in oak, and the winery used older French oak hogsheads.

Older barrels contribute very little obvious vanilla or toast. Their main role is to build texture and allow gentle development.

What are phenolics in white wine?

Phenolics are natural compounds found in grape skins, seeds and stems.

In a white wine, they can create a very light grip or chalky sensation. Here, the gentle phenolic structure helps guide the wine towards its savoury, mouthwatering finish.

What does Geraldton wax mean in a tasting note?

Geraldton wax is a native Australian flowering plant with a fresh, aromatic fragrance.

When used in a wine review, it describes a delicate floral and slightly herbal aroma. It does not mean the wine tastes like candle wax.

How long can I cellar it?

Winepilot recommends drinking the wine between 2025 and 2029. Lenton Brae suggests that it can be cellared for up to 10 years.

For longer storage, keep the bottle somewhere cool, dark and temperature stable.

 
 
 
 
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