Chenin!Chenin!Chenin!
Chenin!Chenin!Chenin!
Just as there are champions of Riesling, there are champions of Chenin Blanc. This noble, long-lived grape of the Loire Valley is responsible for everything from bracing sparkling wines, frivolous pét nats, decadently sinful late-harvested wines and everything from crisp and lively to brooding and austere in every shade of dry and sweet.
The virtues of Chenin Blanc are not new, either - the great whites of the middle and upper Loire have been celebrated for centuries, with many of its top wines capable of ageing for as long as any other cellar-worthy white in the world. But beyond the traditional fine wine enclaves of Vouvray and to a lesser extent Savennières, there is much to discover about the highly terroir-sensitive nature of Chenin Blanc. From Jasnières to Saumur, Anjou to Montlouis, a revolution has swept Chenin up in its wake as new wave winemaking revitalised interest in the variety’s potential all along the valley.
Away from its heartland, Chenin Blanc’s noble status is also evident in how early it arrived to Australia, South Africa and New Zealand (as well as numerous other wine-producing countries outside of Europe). Each country has its own traditions with the grape, but are experiencing a halo effect from all this renewed interest in the variety. We will also be exploring some standout heroes of Chenin Blanc from the Tri-nations to track the influence of this movement beyond the Loire.
In the lineup of deliciousness, you’ll find gems from our cellar including Roches Neuves Insolite, Bellivière Calligramme, Chidaine Les Argiles, Jousset Premier Rendezvous and Mosse Initiale BB ;)
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