MMAD Chenin Blanc 2024 from MMAD Vineyard in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, is a thrilling old–vine chenin that feels both coastal and finely sculpted, with orchard fruit, spice and a salty, sandy edge. This MMAD Chenin Blanc 2024 comes off dry–grown bush vines planted in 1964 on Maslin sand over ironstone, hand–harvested then split between crushed and whole–bunch pressing, fermented in concrete and large old oak before a spell in old French puncheons.

In the glass you’ll find white jasmine and grapefruit, then layers of red and green apple, ripe pear and stone fruits, with marzipan, hazelnut, ginger, preserved lemon and emerging honey notes over a chalky, mineral core. The palate is mid–weight, textural and fleshy yet tense, with waxy orchard fruits and poached apple framed by sea–spray salinity, pithy citrus, wet slate and brisk, mineral–driven acidity that keeps everything incredibly lively and moreish. It’s delicious now but clearly built to develop for 10–15 years, gaining more nutty, honeyed complexity in bottle.

On the table, it’s superb with grilled whiting, scallops, mussels, roast chook, pork with crackling or richer veg dishes like leek gratin, where that fruit weight, spice and saline cut really sing. It will also shine alongside washed–rind cheeses, roast cauliflower or a lemony seafood pasta, making MMAD Chenin Blanc 2024 one of Australia’s most exciting, food–friendly whites from old vines.