Calvados, Chenin Blanc
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MMAD Chenin Blanc 2023 375mlI cut my teeth on chenin blanc, McLaren Vale chenin at that, but the wines I was drinking in the late 1980s didn’t bear a great deal of resemblance to this majestic offering.
I’m a bit blown away. Instead of being the steak knives in the range this vies for top spot. It has flavour and texture but it’s the way brine and smoky, reductive characters play in with the fruit that really gets you in. This is a sophisticated white wine. It’s all river stones and nashi pear, apple and cedar, though it’s defined by its smoke/salt/stone characters. It’s also exceptionally poised, dry and tense, all of which suggest that it has a seriously good future ahead of it. (96) CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front
Bright, light yellow hue with a nutty bouquet that reflects some barrel work, combined with creamy, waxy, pastry-like nuances. The wine is bright and intense in the mouth, restrained and quietly persuasive, with a bone-dry balance and refreshing qualities. There's a lot to like here. HUONE HOOKE, The Real Review2023Chenin BlancAustralia436$32.00 As low as $28.80 -
Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec 2022 375mlDomaine Huet reigns supreme in Vouvray. They make some of the world's most pure dry wines and piquant sweet styles from the racy and multifaceted Chenin Blanc. But you'll need patience, these powerhouses need around a decade to start revealing their inherent complexities.
Le Haut Lieu is the original vineyard, purchased by founder Gaston Huet in 1928. It's based on heavy clay and chalk in the topsoil means these wines tend to be the most approachable in youth, though they age beautifully.
The 2022 Le Haut-Lieu Sec is a lithe, reductive style with floral character and talcum powder. Full of phenolic, lip-smacking texture woven through its core, lending a sense of satisfying grunt to this dry yet balanced style. Clarity, precision and harmony are keywords in this wine's execution. A little more fleeting on the finish than ideal. (5.5g/L) REBECCA GIBB MW, Vinous
2022Chenin BlancFrance422$61.00 As low as $54.90