Winemaker Notes
#71 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2024
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A light-bodied, very fresh and dry wine with aromas of minerals and wet stones. Great acidity balances a creamy lemon curd character that’s bright and clean. Only 12.2% alcohol.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Chenin Blanc was matured for six months mainly in stainless steel and 20% used French oak. It has bright aromas of white peach, kiwi, candle wax, floral perfume and flinty streaks. The light-bodied palate is pure and refreshing with gently flinty flavors and a candle smoke-laced finish.
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Wine Spectator
Shows plenty of verve and intensity, offering yuzu, mango and lemon curd notes at the core, plus accents of hops, vetiver and lemongrass. Vibrant acidity and plenty of momentum on the finish make this a showy wine, with a hint of crunchy sea salt that lingers.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
The vineyards just inland from the Sacramento River Delta, along the deep banks of the Sacramento River, comprise the Clarksburg AVA. The River Delta channels in cold air and fog from the Pacific Ocean creating a cooling effect in this area. Warm summer days quickly change to chilly evenings and make a great environment for grape growing. While a range of grape varieties grow here, Chenin blanc stands out the most, distinguishing itself in the appellation.
The Clarksburg Wine Growers and Vintners Association, made up of nearly 50 grower members and over a dozen wineries, has been working since the late 1980s to promote the high quality wine of its region.