Chenin Blanc Taste Off. A Grape That Deserves More Respect

Chenin Blanc Taste Off. A Grape That Deserves More Respect – Episode #445

April 16, 2008

Chenin Blanc is a little grape that can make some very fun and even serious wines, Please search out a little Chenin and sit back and see what Gary Vaynerchuk thinks!

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Comments on this episode(457) Leave a comment ›

“One of my recent tweets: Man Vinters 08 chenin b: Crisp and doesn’t wi…” by Kris
“Last Chenin Blanc I had was Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc…” by Kittysafe
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Wines tasted in this episode:

Dry Creek Chenin BlancNapa Chenin Blanc
2006 Francois Chidaine Touraine BlancTouraine
2007 Cederberg Chenin BlancSouth African Chenin Blanc

Links mentioned in todays episode.

457 Responses

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April 17, 2008

salvatore
Never had a Chenin Blanc ! Now it’s on my list to try.

I’m beggining to wonder if you even read the comments. Mentioned to you a week ago; I turned the big 65 on the 15th. No shout out for “Salvatore” !

So who cares if I’m banned from watching ???????
April 17, 2008

Scott
Great show Gary. I havenâ€™t had a Chenin Blanc yet.
April 17, 2008

torquey
QOTD: I can’t remember tasting a Chenin Blanc, so it’s high time I did!
April 17, 2008

Omallley
The only Chenin Blanc that I’ve tasted was a part of a sparkling wine – so I’ve had 1/4 of the puzzle, I suppose. I did just pick up a dry Vouvray while in France though…so I guess I’ll be re-commenting in a few weeks.
April 17, 2008

PhilB
QOTD: FranÃ§ois Chidaine too!! But I tasted through the range and his Montlouis and Vouvrays are awesome!!!

And GV, be careful about what you say with scotch man!!! If there is ONE spirit that also has a huge diversity, it is scotch whisky! Taste Lagavulin, Macallan, Highland Park, Talisker and Glenkinchie side by side, all totally different!!!
April 17, 2008

Susan
The last chenin blanc I drank was Vouvray Sec La Coulee D’argent from Domaine Bourillon d’orleans 2005. That was in June 2007.
April 17, 2008

Ian
Great show Gary! Big ups to the Big O
April 17, 2008

msnep
QOTD: Die Tweede Droom Chenin Blanc Wild Yeast 2006 form Groot Parys, Paarl. Very different… Great stuff! Unfortunately, I think it is not easily available outside of the Netherlands…

South Africa offers many very interesting wines at a fantastic QPR. Gary, do some more shows on SA wines!
April 17, 2008

Micha
QOTD: Last Chenin blanc? Just a few days ago. It was the Welmoed chenin blanc 2007 from South Africa. Nice value-driven chenin, very solid for EUR 5.
April 17, 2008

David
I don’t believe I ever had one (!)I’ll make sure I pick one up in the next few days! Good episode
April 17, 2008

jason
good to see a episode on chenin blanc. i love the vouvrays. demi sec is where i kinda hang out. the sec can be tooooo much sometimes. last bottle i had of that was i believe a 2001 foureau vouvray, sec. it was filled with limes and birthday cake. it surely had grip and was really racy. not for everyone. i had some Ca chenin blanc a few months ago and it was correct. anyhow, all in all one of my favorite whites. i usually recommend it to friends that think white wine all tastes the same.
j
April 17, 2008

Azerule
2005 Francois Chidaine Montlouis Clos Habert

Gotta echo Leif’s comments below me here, Chidaine is the man.
April 17, 2008

Leif Sundstrom
QOTD: 1990 Prince Pontiatowski Vouvray Clos Baudoin

AND I think it’s worth mentioning that Francois Chidaine (who i believe you called “FranKos Chidayan” in this episode…) is one of the better producers in the vouvray/mont-louis territories and has since purcahased clos Baudoin from Prince Pontiatowski, and made mwine from this vineyard, one of the most coveted in the region…. No wonder his little Touraine (his cheap crap compared to his other wines) was so interesting for $10…. Buy it, and then some of the others.
April 17, 2008

T. Bone
Aren’t Montlouis and Vouvray in Touraine? Some great Chenin from them thar hills. Haven’t had the opportunity to try any, but I hear Montlouis offers affordable alternatives to the (generally) expensive Vouvrays.

Last Chenins I had were at a trade tasting – I got in by volunteering to pour and got the chance to try several Savennieres and a number of Vouvrays including a brut sparkler. Still trying to get my head around Savennieres, they are truly bizarre wines. Gotta luv the Vouvrays, though – so fresh and ready for anything.

Great comparison of budget Chenin from different countries/styles. Really makes me want to go grab those bottles and see for myself. Who wouldn’t want a nice glass of Steen? Thanks for another great show.
April 17, 2008

John S.
QOTD: Have yet had any wine yet I’m still 20 give me till the end of July
April 17, 2008

rimarfish
Great episode, as usual, Gary!
QOTD: Mulderbosch from South Africa.
April 17, 2008

Marc from Aosta
I thought I’d widen out the sphere of Vayniacs by presenting myself: I am from French mother/English Father and I live in North West Italy, at the foothills of the Italian Alps (the Region is “Valle D’Aosta”). I’m married to a sweet and wonderful Italian girl and we have two kids.

We make some interesting wines here such as some great Passito, and the autoctonous red Fumin and some sharp whites like the Petite Arvine.

My “second job” is to help one particular winery develop their export market. In fact we will be taking part in the San Francisco “Golden Glass” expo on the 8th of June and we’d love to get you to taste our wines. Just mention Marc sent you and they’ll give you special “Vayniac” service.
Take a look at our web-site (www.lacrotta.it) and leave me some comments at marc@lacrotta.it
April 17, 2008

Matthew Bellamy
Great show. I don’t drink that much Chenin Blanc but will get one for the weekend. The last one I had was the Le Mont, Sec 2004, which was pretty good.
April 17, 2008

Mark E.
Hey, I just finished a bottle of 2006 Craftsman KirÃ¡lyeÃ¡nyka – a really surprising white made in hungary from the KirÃ¡lyeÃ¡nyka grape, which is native to hungary. I bring it up because the label says it is “Reminiscent of wines made of Chanon Blanc and Viognier grapes.”
I’ve had Viognier, but never a Chanon blanc, (sorry! young 22-yr-old CKC palate here!) and this wine was a great experience. I guess I should put this (and more) on Cork’d, but just wanted to raise your awareness of this interesting ‘06 White with the coolest green label that has a wine maker working on a barrel on the bottle.
April 17, 2008

WrightyUK
Last Chenin was Bellingham Maverick from S Africa. Great show again!
April 17, 2008

Mitch
You know what Gary, I’m sipping on some white zinfandel right now straight from the bottle and I’m enjoying it wholly. I went back and watched your 31st birthday episode and I’ve gotta say thank you for your comment that if you enjoy something, drink it.

This bottle is Gallo’s 2006 white zin, really tasty and a nice change from some of the shitty bitter wines I’ve been drinking lately.

What does everyone think of Gallo?
April 17, 2008

Justin L Ove
The last time was never. I’ll have to give it a whirl!
Can I watch more now?
April 17, 2008

Lurker
Have had some Vouvrays, which I enjoyed tremendously.
Gary, it is time for some serious scotch tasting on The Show.
April 17, 2008

medo
This was a great show Gary!

QOTD: I think the last Chenin Blanc I had was the 2006 Sterhuis Chenin Blanc from SA or the 2004 Marc Bredif Vouvray Chenin Blanc… Both great!
April 17, 2008

bobc
OK Vayniaks..we have majorly screwed up!! By buying Garys book we have doomed ourselves…let’s say he sells 10000 books..in 50 major cities….thats gonna end up being 50 book signings…thats 50-150 less WLTV’s!! We are getting “under-chucked” by helping to promote the book!! The only way to Salvation(and more WLTV) is to cancel all our book buying.. and let Gary do more shows!! Let your “pride” be your guide!!