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White Wine

Chenin Blanc

Just like Riesling, Chenin Blanc, often abbreviated to just Chenin, is capable of producing an incredibly diverse range of wines from fresh dry (sec), to botrytised sweet wines of insane complexity.

Similar to German Riesling’s Trocken, Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese et al., Chenin from the Loire has a classification system related to sugar levels.

Sec (dry)

Demi-Sec (off dry) typically 15-25 g/lt residual

Moelleux (slightly sweeter) at approximately 40-50 g/l.

Moelleux 1er Trie (the first picking of botrytised berries) that produces a wine with residual sugar of about 60-100 g/lt and yet also with very high acidity.

The dry wines tend to be mid-weight building a lovely level of opulence as they ages.

What does Chenin Blanc Taste Like?

Flavours: Watch for the perfume, pear, citus spice, hints of apricot & jasmine in the sec, these wines build complexity as they age. The sweet wines add an array of aromas and flavours not dissimilar to the great Sauternes, ginger, honey, marmalade, patisserie notes, grilled nuts marzipan and beyond. Again as they age complexity builds.

Balance: Like any great wine, Chennin Blanc will have impeccable balance across each of the styles, marrying natural acid and delicious flavours.

Mouthfeel & Texture: When very young they have a lovely texture which becomes luscious and simply put caresses your tongue as they age. As residual sugar increases the mouthfeel builds, yet, across the styles remains light and clean.

It’s just so easy to hoover!

Where is Chenin Blanc grown?

The Loire Valley and large swathes of South Africa dominate the plantings of Chenin Blanc in the world. Recently we’ve seen a little revival in Australia too.

Image: Domaine Huet’s Clos du Bourg

The Elixirs of Domaine du Closel!

Domaine du Closel Savennières 'La Jalousie' Chenin Blanc 2020
A delicious Jalouise. Quince and Fejoa with a little baking spice. Building in depth with decent length in the glass. Textural phenolics play nicely with chalky acid complexed by hazelnut and crème pat from lees. Vivacious and refreshing. It’ll be lovely to see this fill out with a little more bottle age. Lemon oil and zest at play. Let it warm a little. The perfect intro to the fresher styles of Savennières. It will offer load more with time in bottle!
$94
$90ea in any 3+
$86ea in any 6+
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Domaine du Closel Savennières 'Le Clos du Papillon' Chenin Blanc 2020
A complex, textural and thrilling Chenin Blanc. Two parcels, one picked earlier and devoid of botrytis, one later with a little botrytis marry seamlessly presenting us with an entrancing creature. Dry Chenin of this standing is truly something special.There’s a certain composure and harmony here. A fine example, the textural elements show a leaning to less alcohol and higher perceived acidity than its sibling ‘La Caillardières’ adding a degree of restraint and sophistication to thi
$145
$140ea in any 3+
$135ea in any 6+
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Filters & Sorting

Domaine Arnaud Lambert Samur Brézé 'Clos de Midi' 2023
Looking good! Fresh, style with a nice phenolic grip and cleansing astringency with crunchy mineral acid. Spiced pear and quince with citrus rind and fresh marmalade are balanced by silvery almond lining. Building generosity in the glass.Give this a year in bottle to settle a little and drink over 5 years.
$72
$69ea in any 6+
$66ea in any 12+
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Clos de l'Écotard Saumur Blanc L'Enroulée 2019
L'Enroulée is a one-off cuvée and is a blend of Le Haie Nardin, which is normally a separate wine, “rolled together” this parcel with the fruit from his vines in Les Quarts-Saint-Vincent.This wine gives a prnounced perfume of white blossom and jasmine. Clos de l'Écotard's hallmark quince is back with more length and depth, as well as a pop of lanolin. The acidity and texture here are superb; mineral and lon, with a layer of phenolics playing nicely on the tongue. Flavours of maple, nuts a
$86
$82ea in any 3+
$78ea in any 6+
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Clos de l'Écotard Saumur Blanc 2019

Clos de l’Écotard Saumur Blanc 2019

Chenin Blanc | Saumur, France

The estate's signature wine, the Clos de Ecotard, offers a refined and harmonoious expression of Chenin Blanc. With white flowers and delicate perfume, flavours of ripe pear, maple spice and a mineral undercurrent are balanced by a taut line of invigorating acidity. The texture gradually builds on the palate and takes shape beautifully in the mouth, with wonderful depth and length and a gentle sweep of phenolics characterise by a fine silvery bitterness on the finish.
$86
$82ea in any 3+
$78ea in any 6+
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Château Pierre-Bise Savennières 'Roche aux Moines' 2020

Château Pierre-Bise Savennières ‘Roche aux Moines’ 2020

Chenin Blanc | Savennières, D'Anjou-Saumur

Wine of personality keep on coming from Savennieres. Lythe, transparent fruit. Dry with pear, baking spice and candied citrus peel. Somehow they have managed to combine a weightless feel with the depth of fruit,a little phenolics and glycerol making for a luscious caress of the tongue. A fine wine that as with all dry Chenin will need a couple of years to start expressing itself in full. I can see why the 2018 managed to score 1 of just 50 wines in show out of almost 19,000 at Decanters 2021 Awa
$87
$83ea in any 3+
$79ea in any 6+
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Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur Blanc 'l'Insolite' 2021
Pretty, fine, long, textured & rich. Quince fruit with lovely caressing phenolics & a refreshing finish. A faint lick of green leafy herbs chervil or tarragon. Fine, a lovely pithy finish cleansing with a little bitterness. Wild ferment in 1200 stockingers 600 barrels. Fresh & thirst-quenching. Opened beautifully in the glass. Yum! Out to play now with plenty to come.
$87
$83ea in any 3+
$79ea in any 6+
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Terre de l'Elu Vin de France 'Bastingage' 2021

Terre de l’Elu Vin de France ‘Bastingage’ 2021

Chenin Blanc | Loire Valley, Anjou

Flow and shape here is excellent. A blend of 4 terroirs. Vinified separately. Seamless, rich textural wine with an acid cut and a little bitterness keeping it fresh.Pear and fresh quince cooked to blush as on a cake. A lovely core of fruit. Delicacy playing with the richness.  A little white flower hint of that marzipan and gentle silvery sweep of bitterness.Fermented in 500L oak with a discrete positive influence from 10% new wood. Terre de l’Elu have been working carefully on the qu
$88
$84ea in any 3+
$80ea in any 6+
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Domaine du Closel Savennières 'La Jalousie' Chenin Blanc 2020
A delicious Jalouise. Quince and Fejoa with a little baking spice. Building in depth with decent length in the glass. Textural phenolics play nicely with chalky acid complexed by hazelnut and crème pat from lees. Vivacious and refreshing. It’ll be lovely to see this fill out with a little more bottle age. Lemon oil and zest at play. Let it warm a little. The perfect intro to the fresher styles of Savennières. It will offer load more with time in bottle!
$94
$90ea in any 3+
$86ea in any 6+
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Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc Grey Label 2021

Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc Grey Label 2021

Chenin Blanc | Loire Valley, Anjou

The Anjou Blanc was previously produced from bought-in fruit, but the 2021 vintage was made up of 50% of the estate's fruit. Tasted after being opened for three days, it has taken on an added richness and roundness that wasn't previously there. There's a mere soupçon of flinty character. Intense and precise, with laser-like acidity flying through the mouth like an arrow. The finish is nutty, pastry and lightly salty, lingering with the merest tonic-like bitterness.Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous 91
$105
$100ea in any 3+
$95ea in any 6+
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Domaine Arnaud Lambert Samur Brézé 'Clos David' 2021
Serious Chenin here. A big jump from the Midi. Lambert appears to be working with a little more phenolic extract adding a playful grip and cleansing astringency. Very complete and flowing. David’s extra time in old oak and a 2nd winter in tank give it harmony and refinement, flowing with a real step up in sophistication.Super zippy, mineral acid with the core of fruit to support it. Building generosity and freshness in the glass on a fine crisp acidity. Heading more strongly down the quinc
$111
$107ea in any 3+
$103ea in any 6+
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Huet Vouvray Sec 'Le Mont' 2021
Dry 3g/L

Huet Vouvray Sec ‘Le Mont’ 2021

Chenin Blanc | Vouvray, D'Anjou-Saumur

“This 2021 Le Mont Sec fills the mouth with pear, pineapple, nectarine and violet flavors. There’s a sense of seduction and succulence through the middle of this wine. The flint and the coolness of the site seem to bring a sense of tension and purpose through this wine, which seduces you then spits you out. Delightful fragrance and a mouthwatering, racy finish.”Rebecca Gibb, Vinous 96 Points
$115
$110ea in any 3+
$105ea in any 6+
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Huet Vouvray Sec 'Clos du Bourg' 2021
Dry 3g/L

Huet Vouvray Sec ‘Clos du Bourg’ 2021

Chenin Blanc | Vouvray, D'Anjou-Saumur

“The 2021 Clos du Bourg Sec is an ample, full bodied wine with a stream of acidity. Pure, floral and fragrant with aromas of pineapple, violets and fresh grapes. While rich, it is light in sensation, like a cloud of Chenin filling the mouth, and finishes with a fine, almost powdery and chalky texture.”Rebecca Gibb, Vinous 95 Points
$115
$110ea in any 3+
$105ea in any 6+
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Huet Vouvray Demi Sec 'Clos du Bourg' 2020
Off Dry 18-25g/l sugar

Huet Vouvray Demi Sec ‘Clos du Bourg’ 2020

Chenin Blanc | Vouvray, France

“Drinking the 2020 Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec is like taking your shoes off at the end of a long day of walking and soaking them in warm water: there's just satisfaction and relaxation. The 2020 has a sense of volume but not weight, filling the mouth with depths of pure fruit before the acid pours forth like a canal lock being opened. You can expect a hint of spice and crème caramel alongside apple and florals. I am utterly seduced.”Rebecca Gibb, Vinous 97 PointsSR 95
$116
$111ea in any 3+
$106ea in any 6+
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