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Thursday, May 25, 2006
Chenin Blanc
The other ‘c’ word:
chenin blanc from California
Wine columnist Edward Deitch reviews Pine Ridge’s ’04 Chenin
Blanc-Viognier. And yet chenin blanc just doesn’t get the respect it
deserves, except by those in the know.
Barbecue
and wine – a cool combination
I just love the creativity of this winemaker, bringing together rich,
tropical and unoaked chardonnay, Muscat and chenin blanc grapes for one
delicious experience.
Wine
Pairings
If you're looking to avoid sauvignon blancs altogether, steer toward a
Vouvray (based on the chenin blanc grape) such as the Remy Pannier 2004
($13) from the Loire Valley with its light, fresh fruit and peach
flavor.
Wine and
Spirits / The Judean Hills are alive
Efrat, Chenin Blanc, Teperberg Reserve, 2004: Golden straw in color,
medium-bodied, reflecting light oak treatment in French and American
oak barriques with a light creamy overlay on generous peaches, pears,
melons and spring flowers, complemented by a hint of citrus peel on the
finish.
Vancouver
Courier
On the other end of the price scale and from another side of the world
comes another worthy white-the 2005 Flagstone Noon Gun, a true Cape
"cocktail" of Weisser Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc,
Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Semillon, Morio Muscat. One more good screwtop
from the Cape: Fairview Goats do Roam White 2005-another one of those
"cocktails"-comes together with Chenin Blanc, Clairette, Riesling,
Viognier and Grenache Blanc.
Colin
Bower tastes the latest Indaba blends
There are six varietals in the Indaba range: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon
Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage, Merlot and Shiraz. Also recommended is the
2005 Chenin Blanc, also to come on to the market in the next few weeks.
Wine
Lovers Page
By its nature, this intense, mineral-laden Chenin Blanc is a rare thing
for a white: a wine so one-dimensional and frighteningly acidic in its
youth that it needs as long as a decade in the bottle before maturity
brings it around to a rich, imposing complexity that ranks it among the
great ones. I took the risk and was duly rewarded with a rich, complex
Chenin Blanc that's still very much alive.
New
tastes of South Africa on the way
South Africans might prefer to think of their wine industry as a
relative newcomer to the global stage but it is actually 347 years old
and saddled with a history of cheap chenin blanc and patchy pinotage.
Gold and
silver in Lisbon
Goudini Pinotage 2005; Guardian Peak Merlot 2004; Kaapzicht Steytler
Pinotage 2003; La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2005; Rijckbosch
Chenin Blanc 2005; Spice ...
96 Winery
Road: Still going strong
Forrester’s current high profile offering is his chenin blanc, getting
plenty of attention as one of the best offerings amongst a resurgent
varietal. The days of chenin blanc as little more than house plonk are
fading, and not before time.
Celebrate
unusual varieties
Pull the cork on a bottle of Evolution, or unscrew the cap on the 2004
Vinum Cellars White Elephant California White Table Wine ($14), a
Chenin Blanc-Roussanne-Viognier blend made by Napa Valley winemakers
Richard Bruno and Chris Condos. Try Pine Ridge Winery's 2004 Clarksburg
Chenin Blanc-Viognier ($14) for its pretty honeysuckle aroma and a rush
of fresh peach, pear, green melon and citrus flavors.
Twist
into summer wines
On the other end of the price scale (and from another side of the
world), another worthy white comes in the form of 2005 Flagstone Noon
Gun, a true Cape "cocktail" of Weisser Riesling, Chenin Blanc,
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Semillon, Morio Muscat. One
more good screwtop from the Cape: Fairview Goats Do Roam White 2005 -
another one of those cocktails - comes together with Chenin Blanc,
Clairette, Riesling, Viognier and Grenache Blanc.
A
revolution ferments in Mexico
The staggering number of varietals in this microclimate include
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Petite Syrah,
Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah, Barbera, Grenache, Chardonnay, Chenin
Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Colombard. His biggest seller is
Cabernet Sauvignon, but his best wine may well be the Chenin Blanc, a
lovely white with floral and citrus scents that would go great with
ceviche.
Dunne
on Wine: The old man and the oyster
Dry Creek Vineyard 2005 Clarksburg Dry Chenin Blanc ($11.50), the
latest version of a pleasantly refreshing wine that finishes in the top
10 almost every year.
Summer
calls for crisp whites
In addition to Lodiand Monterey-sourced chardonnay, smaller amounts of
chenin blanc, muscat and gewürztraminer flesh an already
medium-bodied beauty packed with fresh fruit and crisp acidity. Made
from 75 percent Torrontes, a wildly aromatic and lush variety, and
finished with 25 percent chenin blanc, the wine shows wonderful
honey-apricot and sweetpeach notes and moderate acidity.
Wine
Blogging Wednesday No. 20--Anything But Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or
Riesling
We choose a delicious Chenin Blanc that was refreshing and clean,
bursting with citrus, green apple and floral melon flavors.
The Local
Grill, Hurlingham Manor
Last year's Van Loveren Sauvignon Blanc will set you back R60 while the
same vintage French Cote de Gascogne Chenin Blanc is R65. The Glen
Carlou Chardonnay 2004 is R155.
Monsoon
still cooks up a delicious storm
There you can also watch the staff plate numerous coconut crème
caramels (the must-have dessert) and meter out wines by the glass
riesling, chenin blanc, gruner veltliner, rose and pinot noir are among
the choices available from the impressive international list.
Bombay
wines a good match for Indian fare
Samant, who gave up a high-tech career in the Silicon Valley for the
good grape, have expanded their Sula Vineyards production of chenin
blanc, sauvignon blanc ...