CHENIN BLANC

Question 1

Loire Valley

Answer 1

Sight: pale to medium straw green, very bright.

Nose: red and golden apple, quince, lemon-lime citrus, peach-apricot,
floral, spring greens/herb, green olive, sulphur/wet wool, and pronounced chalky minerality/wet stone. SO2 often detected; used barrels or no wood at all.
Oxidative bruised apple, apple purée.

Palate:
bone dry to sweet depending on the style. Vouvray Sec and Savennières can be austere, bone dry and intensely flavoured wines with intense minerality.
Vouvray Demi-Sec and Doux often display honey and botrytis notes with tart citrus and chalky minerality.

Structure:
alcohol: medium to medium-plus;
acidity: medium-plus to high.

ID Keys: dry wines have a combination of apple-peach fruit, wet wool, wet stone-mineral quality with high acidity and no wood. Sweeter wines have honey, ripe stone fruits, citrus, and minerality. The SO2 qualities often make Old World Chenin easier to identify.

Question 2

New World: California – Washington State

Answer 2

Sight: pale to medium straw.
Nose: a fruit-bowl of ripe melon, pear, and tropical fruit with sweet and tart citrus notes.
Little, if any, minerality and oak infrequently used.

Palate: medium bodied and off-dry to slightly sweet.
Quality wines have a good balance of ripe, succulent fruit and crisp acidity.

Structure:
acidity: medium to medium-plus;
alcohol: medium to medium-plus.

ID Keys: off-dry, pleasantly fruity and easy drinking.