by Ray Johnson | Jan 3, 2011 | California, Chenin Blanc, Viognier
Pine Ridge, California, Chenin Blanc – Viognier 2008 The nose features melons and peaches, very fresh. In the mouth the same fruits delight with a touch of residual sugar and thirst-quenching acidity – very nice yet again. This wine has historically been a...
by Ray Johnson | Jun 19, 2010 | Chenin Blanc, France, Loire Valley
Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette (Domaine Pichot), Vouvray 2009 The nose is a little dead on the first bottle opened – I suspect a low level of TCA. Fortunately, the second and third bottles have a much more vivid expression of fruit when you smell them. In the...
by Ray Johnson | Jan 10, 2010 | Chenin Blanc, France, Loire Valley, Montlouis sur Loire
Francois Chidaine, Montlouis sur Loire, Clos Habert 2007 This wine was a tremendous disappointment after my experience with the previous vintage, reviewed earlier. First it was worrisome that the colour was quite golden. Smelling the wine was a first rate example of...
by Ray Johnson | Dec 5, 2009 | California, Chalone, Chenin Blanc, Monterey County
Chalone Vineyard, Chalone, Estate Grown, Chenin Blanc 2006 I’m a huge fan of Chenin so I come at this review in a bit of a quandary. We visited the winery last week and had an opportunity to see the vines that produce this wine. They are truly old soldiers,...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 25, 2009 | Chenin Blanc, Coulee de Serrant, France, Loire Valley, Savennieres
Clos de la Coulee de Serrant, Savennieres-Coulee de Serrant 2004 The wine in this bottle is deeply golden, almost brown, the nose is very complex, the mouth is quite dense and the flavors go on for a long time. Yet this wine is quite evolved. The wines of Savennieres...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 17, 2009 | California, Chenin Blanc, Mendocino County
Navarro, Mendocino, Chenin Blanc 2008 This dry, high acid Chenin is bursting with the taste of green apples and lime – very nice. Tasting a second bottle in December I have to reiterate the refreshing, tangy character of this wine, long lasting and delicious. As...
