Ashleigh Barrowman is a wine producer making wines in Marlborough, New Zealand, using natural and organic disciplines. These wines have been made as part of an incredibly limited production with only 51 cases of the Chenin Blanc available, and 31 of the Chardonnay. She uses tarot cards to depict the varietals on the labelling - the Queen of Cups, the Queen of Swords and the High Priestess, each depicted meticulously through bright and colourful stain glass window illustrations.
Planted on the signature Greywacke slated soils of Marlborough, the Chenin Blanc is the Queen of Cups, ruler of the emotional realm. In tarot this card is shown with the queen typically at the waters edge, representing the divide between the sea and land; therefore between thought and feeling. What better representation for this racy Chenin Blanc, with a bracing acidity and almost viscous body that rolls over the tongue. The grapes are left to macerate on skins for 12 hours to achieve the gratuitous body and lees ageing adds to the creamy texture. This has flavours reminiscent of lemon meringue pie and apple crumble...
