2022 Madson Old Vine Chenin Blanc

100% organic Chenin Blanc sourced from a small block near Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County planted in the late 1960’s. Silica, calcare, and chalk make up the soils beneath these old vines. Ocean breezes whip through the wind gap over the vineyard and through the dense vine canopy. Sees one day on the skins before pressing and moving it into neutral French oak barrels, where the native fermentation occurs. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur additions. 2028 bottles produced, 12.0% ABV.  Light bodied and zingy. Shows the coastal sand dune terroir with saline aromas and dense fruit quality. There is brine, tart green apple, caramelized pears, mandarin and lanolin on the nose. On the palate, briny minerality, citrus rind and waxy notes predominate. Salty and electric on the palate, notes of roasted apples and dried flowers. Enjoy now or over the next 8 years.

93 points, Wine Enthusiast. "The nose on this bottling intrigues enough that it requires repeated sniffs to unveil the waves of preserved lemon, wool and lightly toasted aromas. There's a leathery grip to the palate, where baked lemon and apple pie spices meet with a stony streak."