Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: For decades, the industry has attempted to educate the general public on the joys of dry Chenin Blanc, and how well they go with oysters. The 2017 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc is a perfect example of California wineries can do in this endeavor, and these guys have the experience, they have been producing this wine since 1972. TASTING NOTES: This wine is fresh, scrumptious, and crisp. Its lively aromas and flavors of tart melon rind, dried earth, and citrus peel make me want to order a dozen raw oysters, shuck, slurp the bivalves, and sip the wine. (Tasted: August 2, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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.