Chenin Blanc

Had this at a local wine shop and was told it was a sparkling Vouvray.  I don't see that on the label as it appears to Vin de Pays though that is not on the label either.  The importers web site states that this is "Based heavily on Chenin Blanc with a dollop of Chardonnay" from vineyards in Touraine.  In any event, I love Chenin Blanc and thought this was a very nice sparkler.  How much one enjoyed it seemed to be directly tied to ones appreciation fro Chenin (at least at the store).  Light gold in color with some green streaks.  On the nose, this has a nice salinity with a bit of chalk, c

This was a sound bottle.  Many of the Huet 2002's are subject to premature oxidation.  This bottle was excellent.  Chenin Blanc, especially with some residual sugar left, can last for decades.  Golden in color, clear and bright and slightly deep.  On the nose this has orange peel, crushed shells, salinity and a touch of canned peaches.  Medium bodied.  Slightly sweet on the palate.  Complex.  Nice minerality layered with a bit of peach and slight honey.  Nice acidic backbone.  This worked great with a peach cobbler dessert.  Good bottles of this can be enjoyed at any point over the next cou

This is a dessert wine made from the Chenin Blanc grape.  At age 17, this is doing great.  Chenin is one of the longest lived wine grapes out there.  Golden in color.  The nose is great with sea air, orange peel, crushed shells and honey.  Medium bodied.  This is sweet, not cloying or even very sweet but more than off dry.  There is also a bitter note on the finish which complements the sweetness nicely.  In between, some citrus and lots of minerality.  Nice acidity.  This would work with citrus based desserts well or in a small glass on its own.  No hurry, this has at least a decade left i

This one is chugging along.  Perhaps a bit shut down from a bottle a few months ago, but it might have just been the bottle, night or me.  Still an outstanding bottle of wine.  Opened for friends who like to cook but at not into wine.  Come to think of it, the glasses were small and shallow and that may have been an issue as well.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has sea air, slight orange peel and honey.  On the palate, this is off dry.  It has a slightly viscous texture.  Honey, slight ginger, salinity, minerals and slight citrus.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Went great with

I brought this to dinner with a couple that usually take a small pour of my whites and move quickly on.  Not this time.  They both went back for seconds, which is of course, the best compliment to the wine.  Really in a good place, but it is Chenin Blanc, so it has a long life ahead of it.  Light golden in color.  The nose has a lovely salinity along with some apricots and orange peel.  Also a slight metallic minerality (in a good way).  On the palate, be forewarned, this is sweet.  Probably a bit more than off dry.  But it is lovely and deft and light on its feet.  The orange peel comes th

Sandlands is one of the best sources for Chenin Blanc in the United States.  They make a lot of other interesting wines but these might be the best.  And, their wines are all great values.  These come from vines planted back in the 1970's.  Golden in color.  A lovely nose of honey, almond milk and Calvados.  On the palate, it is much the same but less alcohol; let's say pears not Calvados.  Also an underlying minerality.  OK acidity.  Nice finish.  This will work with Salads, fish, or sushi very well.  Chenin Blanc ages very well and while I have not had this old, it seems likely that this

Pop and pour, this is in a good place right now.  Light golden in color.  The nose has a nice salinity with some orange peel.  On the palate, this is barely sweet.  It has an almost dry pineapple quality if that makes sense.  Underlying minerality with a touch a salt (and yes, salt is also a mineral).  Good finish.  This is close to peak but will continue to morph and mature.  No hurry on well stored bottles.  Went well with cheeses.  

I am a big fan of the Chenin Blanc grape and Sandlands makes some of the best in California!  They have a low alcohol but at the same time, these are not wispy or lacking in fruit.  Light bronze/gold in color.  The nose is great with lemons, wax, slight orange peel and minerals.  On the palate, this is lean but solid.  Nice acidity.  A bit of lemon, over a nice steely minerality.  Nice finish.  Worked great on its own but will work with lighter foods and even a burger.  Probably should last for 5 to 8 more years, but perhaps even longer.  It would be fun to put a bottle away and these are n

This is a relatively inexpensive Chenin Blanc that makes for fine sipping.  Light golden in color.  The nose has pear and lemons and a slight minerality.  On the palate, this is clean and easy to drink.  Pears with slight waxy finish.  Light bodied.  It works with lighter foods or on its own.  Drink these sooner than later though Chenin does have the ability to age.  

This bottle was quite good.  There are some reports about the prematurely oxidizing or at least ageing quickly but this was the first time trying this vintage.  It is quite a deep golden color but that is not unheard of for Chenin.  The nose is very nice with aromas of pears, orange peel, slight copper note and a bit of honey.  Full bodied and slightly viscous.  Also slightly oily in texture.  Lots of great minerality with some background orange and pear.  Long finish.  This has a slight perception of being sweet but it seems dry.  Good acidity.  This worked great with some hummus and also