Winegeeks

“C” grape entries

Chenin Blanc

If ever there were a grape with a split personality the Chenin is it. A grape seemingly at odds with itself in the dual roles of major player in the New World lake of jug wine, but also a creator of fantastically long-lived wines of all levels of residual sugar, from bone dry to amazingly sweet and rich. The varietal has a high natural acidity, great for making crisp, if ordinary, wines in vast quanitities in the new world. The old world versions, most notably from its birthplace in the Loire Valley of France where it is known as Pinneau, can be an ethereal combination of honey, nuts, flowers, peaches and either bone dry or decadently sweet (moelleux). Often in the Loire it is made into a sparkling wine known as Cremant de Loire. Quality Chenin Blanc often needs a decade or more of bottle aging to show its true appeal.

Chenin is grown in great quantities in America, South Africa (as Steen) and South America (confusingly as Pinot Blanco). The best examples come from the Loire Valley in France where it can be bone dry (Savennieres, Saumur), slightly sweet (Coteaux du Layon, Touraine), or very sweet from Botrytis (Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume). These sweet versions can last for decades or longer. It also makes fine sparkling wines as in Vouvray or labeled Cremant de Loire.

Grape Color

White

Wines (22)

Clos Le Vigneau Vouvray Alexandre Monmousseau 2013 Vouvray White
MILTON, Te Ari Vineyard, CHENIN BLANCE 2007 Gisborne White
Domaine Des Baumard Savennieres 2005 Savennieres White
Sauvion Vouvray 2008 Vouvray White
Clos de la Briderie Touraine-Mesland 2008 Touraine-Mesland White
Winexpert Limited Edition Pacific Quartet 2007 California White
Vinum Cellars White Elephant California 2005 California White
Vinum Cellars Chard No Way Chenin Blanc Clarksburg 2006 Clarksburg White
Domaine Bourillon d'Orleans Vouvray 2004 Vouvray White
Nicolas Joly Savennieres Les Clos Sacres 2003 Savennieres White
Domaine de Bellivière Calligramme Jasnières 2004 Jasnières White
Domaine du Closel Savennieres Clos du Papillon 2004 Savennieres White
Domaine du Closel Savennieres La Jalousie 2005 Savennieres White
Clos du Tue-Boeuf Touraine Le Brin de Chèvre 2004 Touraine White
Domaine de Bellivière L'Effraie Coteaux du Loir 2004 Coteaux du Loir White
Coriole Dry Chenin Blanc McLaren Vale 2004 McLaren Vale White
Domaine d'Orfeuilles Silex Vouvray 2002 Vouvray White
Château Moncontour Vouvray Demi-Sec 2002 Vouvray White
Domaine Laffourcade Savennieres 1996 Savennieres White
Monmousseau Vouvray 2002 Vouvray White
Rémy Pannier Vouvray 2002 Vouvray White
Guy Allion Crémant de Loire Brut 2001 Crémant de Loire Sparkling