Searching for Chenin Blanc...

[andrawes76]

I rarely encounter someone who is a die hard Chenin Blanc fan. It happened this weekend and I owe her a nice bottle... Any suggestions?

[Bucko]

Yep, think Loire Valley, where Chenin is unsurpassed, be it dry or super sweet. Baumard is one of the top producers.

[wondersofwine]

Bucko's given you good advice. If you do go domestic, however, I have had a nice Elyse Chenin Blanc from Mendocino County called La Peche (the peach). (And I think South Africa is delivering some nice Chenin Blanc also.)

[Kcwhippet]

Not quite the same caliber of some of the top Loire CB's, but we've enjoyed the Dry Creek Vineyards Dry Chenin Blanc on occasion.

[Innkeeper]

Ditto on both the Loire (look for a dryish Vouvray) and the Dry Creek. We have loved the latter year in and year out, and don't drink as much Chenin as we should.

[hotwine]

Try the 2006 Couly-Dutheil "Les Chanteaux" Chenin Blanc.. picked up a few at Costco last summer and enjoyed with seafood. Also suggest you look for the Chenin Blanc from Comfort Cellars in Comfort, Tx. Purchased at the winery in '06 (probably the '04 or '05 vintage) and found it also very nice with similar fare.

[This message has been edited by hotwine (edited 02-09-2009).]

[TheEngineer]

It's funny, I thikn you've just walked into a bunch of Chenin Blanc fans here.

Ditto on the Baumards, regardless of which one, dry to sweet. Everyone I've tried, I could imagine myself buying. Current favs are the 2002 Clos Saint Catherine and the 2005 Quarts des Charmes. Both wines are probably last forever too.

I've also picked up older vintages in wine stores where there were one or two in a bin somewhere in horrible looking condition and the wines have always been fine. $7 for a 1989 Savennières and what a well spent $7 it was [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by TheEngineer (edited 02-09-2009).]

[VouvrayHead]

And count me as another, having named myself after the great Vouvray.

As much as I enjoy the California Chenin's, I'd go Loire for sure. Savenneires if they are really sophisticated wine-drinkers, Vouvray if you are less sure (Savenneires is not for everyone).