SIREN QUEEN OF CUPS CHENIN BLANC 2025

Ashleigh Barrowman is fast emerging as one of New Zealand’s most exciting winemaking talents. Her wines are increasingly sought after.

She has learnt from some of the best – having cut her teeth working with legends like Patrick Sullivan (Aus), Hans Herzog (NZ), Vino di Anna (Sicily), Domaine Labet (Jura), Jean-Jacques Morel (Burgundy) & Les Bottes Rouges (Jura). After years of being a travelling winemaker, she returned home in 2020 to Marlborough, NZ, and fell in love with the Wrekin Vineyard. Years later, she continues to craft distinct single-vineyard, single-varietal wines that truly represent time and place.

Ashleigh balances her time working amongst the vines and in the cellar. All wines are produced by Ashleigh from certified organic vineyards – they are hand-picked, wild fermented and unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulphites at bottling. 

Oxidative and rich, but with gorgeous energy keeping everything alive. There’s real intensity here, with ripe stonefruit and melon layered over a savoury, lightly nutty edge, plus a subtle briny quality through the palate. Wild fermented in old neutral puncheons, with full malolactic and 12 months maturation, it has plenty of texture and intrigue without losing freshness. A more complex, contemplative expression of Chenin, but still seriously delicious.

Winery notes (2025 Vintage)
"The Queen of Cups rules the emotional realm. She is the woman whose throne is right on the ocean’s edge, and water is typically symbolic of the unconscious and feeling. Her position at the shore indicates that she lies between land and sea, the place where feeling and thought exist. The Queen of Cups acts as a mirror and reflects the depths present in others, so they see themselves in a new light. Most times, the Queen of Cups can also represent the trusted inner voice you have within you. She seems to say that you should take the time to focus on your emotional health before trying to help others. Self-love creates compassion.

Straw pale colour. Wild fennel, aniseed and fresh citrus on the nose. Yuzu and fresh honeysuckle on the palate. Grippy texture, generous mouthfeel, luscious and pithy with a dry, refreshing finish. 

Biodynamically grown by The Wrekin vineyard in Marlborough. Hand-picked and whole bunch pressed into tank to settle overnight. Transferred into 
old neutral puncheons for a long wild fermentation. Full malolactic fermentation and matured for 12 months before bottling."

Reviews for the 2024 vintage below…

92/100 David Walker Bell, WineFolio.co.nz (2024 Vintage)
"A pale golden-green colour in the glass. Excellent varietal typicity, with yellow apple, quince, melon and preserved lemon notes in the perfume. Crisp, dry and slightly salty as the acidity takes the lead through the palate, before a richness and waxy texture sashay across. A touch of honeycomb and baking spice too – generous and well-balanced. The finish is back to dry, mouth-watering and with good persistence."