Named after Mount Chenin in Touraine, a wine region in France’s Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc has been grown in France for over 1,300 years. It is also probably one of the most versatile and easy to grow grapes; its buds appear on the vine early in the spring, but it becomes fully ripe well into fall. The naturally high sugar content and ample acidity render it suitable for every possible style of wine, from dry to off dry to sweet to botrytized and even sparkling.
In France Chenin Blanc has many other synonyms that include Blanc d’Anjou, Anjou, Gros Chenin, Gros Pineau, Pineau d’Anjou, Pineau de la Loire, Pineau de Savennières, Plant d’Anjou and Rouchelin. Most of these names have to do with the area in which it is grown, and Chenin Blanc will usually have aromas and flavors of pear, apple, pear, lemon custard, crushed oyster shells, and river rocks regardless of the style in which they’re made. Outside of France, South Africa is one of the best-known countries for Chenin Blanc; it is the most widely grown white grape there. These wines generally have great mouthfeel or texture, and it is often described as silky, velvety, or smooth. We decided to concentrate on six dry versions and one sweet wine (because who doesn’t love a well-made sweet wine?) made from this delightful grape for this curated list. Here are seven that we’re drinking now.
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Famille Joly 2021 Savennieres Les Vieux Clos Anjou Loire Valley France
Winemaker Nicolas Joly lives and works in a building constructed by the Cistercian monks in the 12th century. The monks planted vines soon afterwards and in the 15th century King Louis XI declared drinking the wine was akin to imbibing drops of gold. From that time on it has had a loyal following including the Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon, and food and wine critics throughout the centuries. This wine is golden straw colored with aromas of white peach, apricot, custard apple, and jasmine blossoms. It is full bodied in the midpalate with flavors of peach, lemon curd, and tangerine zest. Drink now through 2026.
Buy Now: $85
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Domaine Huet 2022 Haut Lieu Moelleux Premier Trie Touraine Loire Valley France
Victor Huet founded his eponymous winery in 1928 and handed it over to his son Gaston who ran it from 1947 until his death in 2002. The winery converted to biodynamic techniques in 1990 and today its wines are considered some of the best biodynamic Chenin Blancs from the Loire Valley. The 2022 Haut Lieu Moelleux Premier Trie is a delightful sweet wine with aromas of canned peach, jasmine blossom, and honeycomb. It is soft (moelleux) on the palate with balanced acidity and flavors of acacia honey, freesia, ripe apricot, and Turkish delight. Pair this with crème brulée and you’ve got a winning combination.
Buy Now: $75
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Ken Forrester 2022 FMC Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch South Africa
Ken Forrester is one of South Africa’s best-known winemakers. He and his wife purchased Scholtzenhof Estate, one of the oldest wine farms in the Stellenbosch area in the early 1990s. They quickly began replanting and now his vines have respectable age to produce complex Chenin Blanc wines. His FMC 2022 has enticing aromas of dried peach, apricot, and acacia honey and flavors of vanilla, guava, custard apple, and cinnamon. It’s silky smooth in the mouth and has balanced acidity.
Buy Now: $80
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Alheit Vineyards 2018 Fire by Night Chenin Blanc Western Cape South Africa
Chris Alheit met his bride-to-be Suzaan at Stellenbosch University and after their marriage they started Alheit Vineyards in 2010. The grapes for this sumptuous wine are grown in the Nuwedam vineyard at their estate property near Paardeberg. Chris and Suzaan prefer to work with dry-farmed bush vines that are planted in decomposed granitic soils which impart a pronounced minerality to the wine. The 2018 has aromas of vanilla, dried apricot, and canned peaches with flavors of white peach, honeysuckle, and acacia honey. It’s drinking perfectly right now but best to enjoy before 2026.
Buy Now: $75
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Domaine du Closel 2020 Les Caillardieres Savennieres Anjou Loire France
Domaine du Closel has 30 acres of Chenin Blanc vines planted in sandy topsoil over a deep bed of volcanic stone. The winemaking team prunes heavily to limit the production of grapes to make more intense, concentrated wines. The vines are exposed to ample breezes that have a cooling effect on the grapes and keep molds and mildew at bay. At harvest, the team makes multiple passes through the vines and only picks the ripest grapes during each pass to ensure proper sugar to acid balance. After fermentation the wines are aged for one year in French oak barrels. The 2020 has aromas of Granny Smith apple, dried Mediterranean herbs, and lemon zest with balanced acidity and flavors of freshly cut green herbs, pear, and white peach with a pleasant splash of salinity in the finish.
Buy Now: $70
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Domaine Belargus 2020 Roueres Blanc Anjou Loire Valley France
After leaving private equity, Ivan Massonnat turned his attention to making wine a few years back and we’re glad he did. His domain is named for the Adonis blue butterfly (Polyommatus bellargus) and occupies a privileged location on a steep slope composed of shist, shale, pebbles, and clay. He chose to plant only Chenin Blanc and makes a few different versions of wines from this grape, all of which we love. His 2020 Rouères explodes from the glass with aromas of peach, pear, quince, freshly picked mushrooms, and citrus blossoms and there is a seamless transition from aromas to flavors of the same fruits in the mid palate. It is big, bold, full-bodied, and voluptuous. It is drinking perfectly right now, but make sure to enjoy it in the next few years while it is in its prime.
Buy Now: $125
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Spioenkop 2019 Sarah Raal Chenin Blanc Elgin South Africa
Located in South Africa’s Elgin Valley, Spioenkop was founded in 2008. Winemaker Koen Roose’s philosophy includes letting the vines speak for themselves to produce pure and elegant wines, but he prefers wines with character that are made with minimal intervention. His Sarah Raal Chenin Blanc is straw colored with aromas of clementine, green apple, and honeysuckle blossoms that transfer to the palate with pronounced minerality and flavors of pineapple, white peach, and tangerine zest.
Buy Now: $58
