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Friday, May 3, 2024

Is Chenin Blanc the Forgotten Grape?

I came across this article written by Matt Kramer: Is Chenin Blanc the Forgotten Grape? Chenin Blanc has long been one of our favorite wines to drink, mainly because we fell in love with the Domaine Huet Chenin Blanc. When we planted our vineyard, we heavily tilted the varieties that we planted to Chenin Blanc. Nearly half of our vineyard is planted with that variety. Yet, Matt Kramer is saying that Chenin Blanc is the forgotten grape.
I will have to concur with that opinion. Not many people have heard of Chenin Blanc. Kramer's article written in 2016 (so now 8 years ago) mentioned that he was being stalked by Chenin Blanc. He went to New Zealand and visited Millton Vineyards and Winery in Gisborne on the North Island and remarked of their single-vineyard Clos de Ste. Anne Chenin Blanc, as stunning in its density, purity, graceful and effortless power and sheer characterfulness.
In looking at my blogposts, I found that I had written a blog in 2015 about Millton Chenin Blanc in 2013 Millton Chenin Blanc being one of the 1001 Wines You Must Taste Before You Die.
Kramer continues his article saying that on a trip to South Africa, he felt that he was being even more stalked by Chenin Blanc. In South Africa, Chenin Blanc accounts for 18% of the wine grapes grown there. The following sentence perked me up: Producers such as Jordan (sold in the U.S. under the name Jardin), DeMorgenzon, Ken Forrester, Eben Sadie and Mullineux, among many others, are issuing Chenin Blancs of dazzling quality.
Another one of the Chenin Blancs which is engrained in our memory is the Petit Chenin made by Ken Forrester. In 2011, we had a 2009 Petit Chenin which we paired with oysters at Cheeky Monkey, a restaurant which sadly no longer exists. That was our eureka moment when we realized that Chenin Blanc is a perfect pairing with oysters!
Kramer's answer to his question about why Chenin Blanc is the forgotten grape is his theory that the grape's versatility is also it's undoing. Chenin Blanc is the white grape of the Loire Valley. Chenin Blanc rules absolutely in such districts as Savennières (mostly dry); Coteaux du Layon (mostly sweet); Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux (fabulous sweet wines); Vouvray (both dry and sweet); and Jasnières (typically dry). It also appears as a sparkling wine, usually labeled as Crémant de Loire.
Yes, it is confusing, but the grape does give you a wide range of flavors that might appeal to your palate. If you are inclined, the Ken Forester Petit Chenin is a good place to begin your journey and a bottle sells for about $15.00!

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