The 2021 Castagna Chenin Blanc, made by Julian Castagna in Beechworth, Victoria, is a strikingly pure and textural take on this Loire-born variety. Aromas of green apple, quince, and lemon balm are layered with gentle lanolin and wild herbs. The palate is taut yet mouth-filling, offering citrus pith, white florals, and a whisper of beeswax, underpinned by chalky minerality and vibrant natural acidity. Wild fermented and raised with restraint, it speaks of place and precision. Though unscored at present, this is a quietly confident wine – versatile, cellar-worthy, and a rare Australian expression of Chenin Blanc done with true intent.