Comments on: Chenin Blanc vs. Sauvignon Blanc – a battle royale? [poll]

By: Guy

Guy — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:04:07 +0000

Chenin Blanc is becoming almost impossible to find in Austin. One of the markets didn’t even carry any wine from Vouvray and only one Chenin Blanc (and that, from the Hill Country of Texas and almost cloyingly sweet, with hints of insecticide).

To my taste, Chenin Blan makes both the best and the worst of the two, with Sauvignon Blanc always somewhere in the middle.

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Dairing Pairings by Evan Goldstein | Dr Vino's wine blog — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:43:48 +0000

[...] this site, we love exotic food-wine pairings. And we often talk about grapes beyond the “big six.” So it should come as no surprise that I am a fan of Evan Goldstein’s new book, Daring [...]

By: bobzaguy

bobzaguy — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:22:35 +0000

Thnx Dr.
I wanted to drop in Concord but couldn’t decide which is the most classic region – NY, MI, IL, OH – maybe time for a taste-off here.

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:15:57 +0000

Bob –

Great to invoke their hierarchy. Nice list.

By: tom hyland

tom hyland — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:10:40 +0000

While we’re discussing the merits of Sauvignon Blanc, it’s interesting to note that no one has mentioned those of Chile. This has been one of the most exciting developments in the wine world as of late. Even the simple $8-$10 offerings have wonderful varietal character, but jump to the bottlings from coastal San Antonio and Leyda Valleys and you have some of the most vibrant examples of the grape made anywhere in the world.

Brilliant wines from producers here such as Casa Marin, Amayna, Leyda and Matetic – some intensely fruity (pink grapefruit, lime), others more assertive (asparagus, gooseberry, hay), but whatever the style, truly special! (and most made with no oak). These are in the $20-$35 range and are among the finest Sauvignon Blancs made anywhere.

By: bobzaguy

bobzaguy — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:22:35 +0000

Broadbent is allowed, he’s English. And they have long had a love affair with Madieras the age of centenarian grandmothers.

Here’s the Ewing-Mulligan Wine for Dummies list of nobles and their reasoning for such:

“Noble grape varieties have the potential to make great –not just good– wine. Every noble grape can claim at least one region where it’s the undisputed king. The wines made from noble grapes on their home turf can be so great that they inspire winemakers in far-flung regions to grow the same grape in their own vineyards.”

Classic noble grapes at their best:
Chardonnay in Burgundy France
Chenin blanc in the Loire France
Riesling in Mosel Rheingau Germany
Pinot noir in Burgundy France
Cabernet sauvignon in Bordeaux France
Syrah in northern Rhone France
Nebbiolo in Piedmont Italy
Sangiovese in Tuscany Italy

sad for Sauvignon blanc, merlot, muscat, etc.

I tend to agree with this. I love Sauvignon blanc, but Chenin blanc does everything so much more esquisitely, and the food choices are much more vast because of Chenin’s ability to show tempered acids and still have the brightness to cleanse the palate. I disagree that Chenin blanc takes a second seat in youthful drinking. Vouvray is great young. But Savennières has no equal throughout the world of wine.

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:15:42 +0000

@Michael – but isn’t that the Semillion talking? I was thinking straight up SB.

@Steve – funny Broadbent casts such a wide net as to include Sercial, not often seen in a dry wine!

So that becomes the key question then: expand the noble class or abolish it?

By: Wine Road Less Traveled

Wine Road Less Traveled — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:05:49 +0000

It depends on my mood and what food I am eating which I prefer, but for pure sipping pleasure I think its Chenin Blanc hands down.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:24:01 +0000

For the record, Michael Broadbent’s “noble” grape varieties are:

Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Gewurztraminer
Merlot
Muscat
Nebbiolo
Pinot Noir
Riesling
Sangiovese
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Sercial

(yes, the punishingly acidic Sercial makes the list!)

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:29:16 +0000

I don’t know that the top example category should go to Chenin. Perhaps I need more exposure to the top Loire properly aged Chenins, but Bordeaux Blanc – albeit mixed with Semillon at times – present some compelling examples. Chenin can be a much more amorphous, perplexing, mysterious type of wine, I think, and that inconsistency can be troubling. But really I do like both.

Of course the nobility bit is silly, and if you really wanted six you’d have to out both of these in favor of nebbiolo, and sangiovese would need a hearing as well. But that is silliness anyway.

By: Dylan

Dylan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:18:01 +0000

Can’t both hold “noble” status or is there something I’m missing here?

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:40:19 +0000

For Sharon and Kelkeagy – hopefully your choice was represented in the poll? Throw the whole “noble” grape thing out?

Steve – provocative with the Falanghina play! Do elaborate on your experiences!

@Sam – the poll is still active. It works for me in Firefox, Safari and IE 8. Perhaps try another browser? Or perhaps someone in your office already voted (only one vote per IP address)?

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:29:08 +0000

Hi, Wow am I bummed that I missed this pole when it was active! As a passionate South African wine lover (and full disclosure – salesmen) I 100% think this grape needs more recognition. If this comes from getting classifies as noble, great, if it comes from more discussions like this, even better. 50% of all Chenin Blanc vines are planted in South Africa. 15-20% of all vines in South Africa are Chenin – many old vine. Bruwer Raats makes incredible chenin blanc, as does the De Morgenzon Estate. This is a grape that South Africa can hang its hat on. Not Pinotage (other than Kanonkop). Chenin Blanc is the perfect wine – fruit like chard, acid like SB and a minerality all its own.

By: The Wine Mule

The Wine Mule — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:34:37 +0000

First: I voted for throwing the whole “noble grape” business out.

That said, Didier Dagueneau was SB’s greatest advocate for nobility, and he’s gone now. To the best of my knowledge, there is no SB equivalent to Savennières–and if that isn’t “noble” then nothing is.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:08:23 +0000

The whole nobility thing is more than little tired. The idea of the big six grapes – Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cab. Sauvignon and Merlot – is a barbaric Anglo-American idea teetering on irrelevance. It consists entirely of French and German varieties as if the rest of the grape world did not exist. Defenestrate it, throw it under the bus, etc.

Still, if there is any variety truly worthy of advancement, it is Falanghina. This would actually be more of a restoration as Falanghina was the grape used in the acclaimed ancient Roman wine Falernum.