Chenin Blanc

Another excellent Chenin Blanc from South Africa.  This also has 10% Semillon blended in.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apples with a slight orange peel and minerality.  Medium to full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is crisp and delicious.  Apples, salinity, and minerality.  Long finish.  This is very nice on its own and will work with a wide variety of food.  A nice choice for grilled snapper.  Drink over the next ten years.  

Chappellet has long been devoted to its Chenin Blanc, even when it wasn’t really in favor. This iteration - frankly the best in years - offers lovely aromatics and a soft mouth feel, a white wine that doesn’t want to be aggressive, but one that seduces you. There are notes of light resin, lemon peel, lime kefir, hints of apricot, tangerine and orange zest. The acidity is what really supports this wine, allowing it to be a food companion for a variety of diverse foods, or even a stand-alone cocktail wine with a cheese platter.

This is a sparkling wine made in the traditional method from 100% Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley.  Light golden in color with a nice mousse of medium to smaller bubbles.  The nose is nice with good minerality along with a bit of red apples.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  The slightest bit of sweetness makes it nice on its own but is still food friendly.  It would work with most foods.  Fried chicken should work well.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

Ordered off the wine list at Edwin's in Shaker Heights, Ohio.  This is Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France.  Pale yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is expressive with minerality (Schist?), apples and slight orange peel.  Semi plush texture.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is mineral driven but there is also some apple fruit.  Persistent finish.  This is drinking well now but should go another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own as well as with food.  This went great with an Asparagus Heart soup (no easy feat).  

This is Chenin Blanc from South Africa.  it is excellent and a great value.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with oranges, orange rind and minerality.  Also, some salinity.  Medium bodied.  Good balance and acidity.  On the palate, the minerality dominates but the citrus gives it some lift and energy.  Long finish.  This is great on its own but also great with food.  This would go very well with grilled Tuna Steaks.  Drink over the next ten years.  

This is Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France.  The name represents the "Three Clays" or three clay dominant parcels of land.  It is not labelled as such but is essentially a Demi-Sec or Half-dry wine.  Light golden in color with green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with an apple sauce quality.  Slight, slight tannins.  Good acidity.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly (or perhaps a bit more) sweet.  Flavors of apples with a bit of wild herbs and a chalky minerality.  Good finish.  This is drinking well on its own and will work with some lighter foods.  Fried

One of the best dry white wines out there.  Consistently and fairly priced.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has minerality along with orange peel and red apples.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Slightly creamy texture.  On the palate, this is crisp and tasty.  Flavors of minerals, apples with slight citrus.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and very food friendly.  It would go well with fried chicken.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

Chenin Blanc is one of our favorite grapes and Sandlands arguably makes the best domestic Chenin Blanc wines.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with apples, apple cider, slight orange peel, and minerality.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is clean, crisp and refreshing.  Flavors of apples/apple cider with some minerals.  Dry.  Good finish.  This is very nice on its own and even better with food.  It would work well with grilled trout.  Drink over the next ten years.  

Chidaine is a favorite Loire producer of ours.  Excellent wines for not crazy money.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with chalk/minerals along with pears and lemon rind.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  Great texture.  On the palate, minerality with pears.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own and even better with food.  This would be great with a goat cheese and roasted beet salad.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.