Blind Corner Ørange In Colour 2023
The Wine
In an exciting development, fruit for this year’s Ørange In Colour was sourced entirely from Ben and Naomi’s Quindalup vineyard (‘home’, as they call it). It’s an organic- and biodynamic-certified site, with typical soils of sand over pea gravel on a granite base. This year’s blend is 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% Chardonnay. Hand-harvested fruit fermented spontaneously on skins with plunging by hand for the first few days before pressing to tank and barrique. The wine went through full malolactic conversion. From another excellent vintage for the region, the 2023 is an expressive, flavourful wine with lip-smacking intensity and juicy appeal.
Minimal added sulphites.
The Details
Variety - Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Western Australia
Sub Region - Margaret River
Extra - Screwcap
Year - 2023
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Ben Gould is known for his refined taste. Following the sale of the family's Deep Woods vineyard in Yallingup in 2005, Gould, alongside his wife Naomi, decided to sell their home to finance the acquisition of a modest 4-hectare vineyard in Wilyabrup. As they transitioned their new land away from irrigation and chemicals, the couple embarked on a European journey. Gould, who had cultivated an interest in organic viticulture in Marg, solidified his passion after touring some of Europe's renowned wine regions.
Returning home, Gould secured a position at Howard Park Wines, simultaneously nurturing his nascent estate, often relying on his own labor, and restoring aged equipment that was beyond his budget to purchase new. The initial period at Blind Corner was challenging, with Gould juggling dual roles and managing additional leased land to compensate for his limited harvest.
By 2015, weary of losing organically-tended vineyards to new ownership, the Goulds invested in a 20-hectare vineyard in Quindalup, located 19 km northeast. Encircled by the sea on three sides, Gould swiftly transitioned the vineyard from conventional to organic and biodynamic practices. He also introduced new grape varieties, including Aligoté, a first for Marg, and clones of Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio. The Wilyabrup vineyard achieved organic and biodynamic certification in 2016, Quindalup in 2017, and finally, Blind Corner's Yallingup vineyard was certified in early 2018.
