New video review!!! See it here: youtube.com/watch?v=CXZIO7jObC8 and be sure to subscribe to our channel. Test version below:
Chenin Blanc is not a well-known wine variety in Australia today. You can find plenty of it in France (notably the Loire Valley, its spiritual home), and even more in South Africa (which is now the world’s largest producer). But what little Chenin is left in Australia (plantings have actually declined here over the years) can mostly be found in WA, in places like the Swan Valley (where it remains a signature varietal) and The Margaret River.
The Chenin Blanc grape is quite versatile, but most often produces wines that are light, clean and crisp. The most common adjectives people use with Chenin include things like “floral notes” or “gentle minerality”. Accordingly, it generally makes for a fantastic cheese wine or for a picnic on a summer day. It really is quite versatile, dare we say it, like a good rosé in that regard 😉
In this video, we try Pimpernel’s 2016 take on the Chenin. If you’ve seen our “top 5 of the Yarra Valley” video (youtube.com/watch?v=Af_CquhDT9U&t), you’ll know that Pimpernel is one of two or three best producers in the entire Yarra Valley. Pimpernel almost always makes quite striking wines, so we couldn’t wait to give this one a spin!
As expected, Pimpernel’s Chenin is a scorcher. This is a Chenin-plus-plus. Yes it is a light- to medium-bodied wine, but it has a solid backbone of broad acidity that provides the perfect platform from which gorgeous flavours like honeysuckle and crisp apple come tingling along the palate. It won’t blow your head off, but it will satisfy and engage almost all wine lovers. And that’s what good Chenin Blanc is all about.
When you begin your Chenin Blanc exploration, here are five more Australian wineries that are “Chenin masters” that are worth a look. You won’t go wrong with any of these:
Voyager Estate is in some ways the godfather of Margaret River Chenin Blanc. Don’t know Chenin if you haven’t tried …
John Kosovich Wines is a boutique producer in the Swan Valley. John Kosovich focuses on just a few things (including Chenin Blanc), and what they do, they do oh so well.
Sittella Winery, also in the Swan Valley, does a sparkling Chenin Blanc, which is well worth checking out. This versatile grape lends itself to the sparkling style.
Castagna over in Beechworth is a highly regarded winery. Try their Chenin Blanc and you’ll see why they are considered a master.
Dowie Doole in McLaren Vale makes one of the cleanest and tightest Chenin Blancs you’ll find in the Australian market. A benchmark for the varietal.
And that’s a wrap! We hope you enjoyed the video, and we’ll catch you next time. To stay abreast of all our adventures, like us on Facebook!
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