Corofin is the small Marlborough estate of Mike and Anna Paterson, known for terroir-driven, minimal-intervention wines. The Meltwater range expresses that philosophy in a fresher, more approachable style while staying true to the estate's organic, low-input principles. For the 2023 Chenin Blanc, fruit was sourced from mature vines in the Wairau Valley on Marlborough's free-draining alluvial soils. Farming follows organic practice with restrained inputs, and the emphasis is on capturing site character rather than overt winemaking. The cooler, textural Wairau fruit gives a bright, food-friendly Chenin with quince, lemon curd and lanolin notes underpinned by vibrant acidity, a style that balances immediacy with genuine cellaring potential.

Grapes for the 2023 were hand-harvested in April and gently pressed to neutral French oak puncheons, where fermentation began spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. The ferment unfolded slowly over about seven months and completed full malolactic transformation, with the wine remaining on its lees until bottling to build texture and complexity. A touch of residual sugar, around 4 grams per litre, balances the crisp acid profile without reading as sweet. The use of older, neutral wood and long lees contact adds mouthfeel while keeping the fruit and mineral character transparent, avoiding any overt oak flavour. The finished wine is textural and vibrant, layering quince, honey and lemon curd with lanolin and citrus zest over a long, mineral finish.