Category Archives: Chenin Blanc

2013 Voyager Estate Chenin Blanc

Still on the hunt for good Australian Chenin Blanc but more often than not it is a fruitless endeavour…not literally of course. This is a very fruity, full-bodied number. A little too much so for my tastes. Mashed bananas, lemon … Continue reading

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2013 Coriole Chenin Blanc

Coriole’s basic Chenin Blanc gains complexity and interest with age. As a young wine though, it’s fairly simple with the focus firmly on refreshment. Crisp green apples and pear with a hint of melon and spice. A little aromatic orchard … Continue reading

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2010 Coriole The Optimist Chenin Blanc

Coriole’s take on a more Vouvray-ish expression of Chenin Blanc. It probably is optimistic to attempt this in McLaren Vale so the title fits. The vineyard from which the grapes were sourced was planted in 1977. It has that going … Continue reading

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2012 The Wanderer Upper Yarra Chenin Blanc

Winemaker Andrew Marks has a particular affinity with the Wesburn vineyard in the Yarra which produces the grapes for this wine – so much so that he considered purchasing it at one stage. And this is a pretty classy Chenin, make … Continue reading

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2013 Willow Bridge Dragonfly Chenin Blanc

Always happy to see more wines from Geographe, Western Australia cross the tasting bench. I don’t mind Chenin as a variety either although I think we’ve still got a lot of work to do in order to get the most out … Continue reading

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2013 Dowie Doole Chenin Blanc

The grapes are from a vineyard in Blewitt Springs planted to Chenin Blanc in 1933. I can’t imagine there’s a lot of Chenin Blanc vines in Australia that can compete with that. “You don’t often hear ‘old vine and hand … Continue reading

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2011 Bernard Fouquet Domaine des Aubuisières Vouvray Cuvée de Silex

I do hope the “t” in Fouquet is silent. Imported by World Wine Estates. Extremely nutty aromas. Usually a good sign. Fairly typical fruit flavours; stewed apple, stonefruit and green pear. Not an immoderate expression of Chenin Blanc. Has a … Continue reading

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2010 Pyramid Valley Moteo Vineyard Hawkes Bay Chenin Blanc

Always happy to give a maligned grape a positive review if it deserves it. I like good Chenin. Pyramid Valley have gained a bit of a cult following over the past few years. They make wines that sit comfortably outside of the … Continue reading

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2012 Jauma Sand on Schist Chenin Blanc

The Jauma label is a product of the imagination of James Erskine. If we can put semiotic debates to the side for the moment, the wines fall into the “natural wine” category…or whatever you want to call it. The whole discussion bores … Continue reading

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2012 Voyager Estate Chenin Blanc

Quite a different style of Australian Chenin to the classic dry white expressions of, say, Coriole or Dowie Doole in McLaren Vale. This has some real palate weight and dare I say, draws a little more inspiration from Vouvray. Smells of apple … Continue reading

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