Chenin

A whole range of wines I like for less than $15 US is available for Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Torrontes, etc. A good Gewurztraminer usually means going a little higher. But the one I don't find very much of in this price range is Chenin Blanc, which I truly love. Ken Forrester Petit Chenin and Chateau Montcontour Vouvray are examples of what I have in mind. Would appreciate any suggestions for other good QPR Chenins - dry, semi-dry or sweet.

Lots of people think Foreau, Huet, and Chidaine are great QPR, although you'd have to spend more than $15.

For closer to $15 Pinon is a good bet.

I think that Domaine Pichot is a good little $15 Vouvray if leaning more to the off-dry. For around $20 though, Baumard makes a great totally bone-dry Savennieres. Good Co-op Saumur Blanc can be found around $10 -Cave des Vignerons de Saumur is a good bet. Foreau and Huet, as Rahsaan mentioned, are the spires of Vouvray. Yours for $30 and up. There are probably some decent CA chenin in the under $20 range, but I haven't had any for years.

The basic Champalou cuvee is usually very good and goes for around $15.

The basic Champalou cuvee is usually very good and goes for around $15.

But I think Pinon for the same price is much much better. FWIW. YMMV.

Domaine des Aubuisieres Vouvray Cuvée de Silex is fairly inexpensive at $15ish.

Baumard has some Coteaux du Layons that can be found for high teens/low 20s (Carte d'Or).

Significant portions of the Chidaine portfolio are available for low to mid 20s.

Pichot La Peu de la Moriette can be found for about $13.

Pinon Cuvee Tradition is widely available for around $15.

I've had the Champalou a few times in the past and thought it was just fine for the price. I haven't tasted any of it recently, but assume the earlier recommendation reflects relatively current consumption.

I also second the nod on the Francois Pinon, and have a couple of bottles in the wine storage unit (aka upright cellar).

I tasted another nice Chenin in this price range several years ago, the Domaine Bourillon Dorleans La Coulee d'Argent Vouvray. It may be out of the range now, but would be worth a quick investigation.

Good luck,

-- Clark

If you're not Californiphobic, try Dry Creek Vineyards' Dry Chenin Blanc, about $10. Usually tangy and a bit steely. I've had a number of Vouvrays that weren't in the same league.

Agree about the Dry Creek CB. Tasted last night downtown at my local winestore/bar. Very consistent wine year in year out!
From S Africa, I would go with the Rudera. Top notch.

It's almost hard to go wrong with Loire Chenin...and none of it is terribly expensive - I imagine the difficulty might be sourcing it.

Look out For Millton Te Arai Chenin Blanc from Gisborne in New Zealand. He's a biodynamic grower I visited last month. Really like his wines.

I haven't had the Dry Creek in years, but generally my favorite US Chenin Blanc. Pine Ridge makes a CB/Viognier blend that used to be about $5, and reasonably tasty, but last time I tried it was $12 and dubious QPR.

In the well-known Loire appellations, I'd agree with the Pinon. There's not much else that I like at $15, but the great thing about Loire Chenin is the great stuff is only a little more. In $20-35 range you can have the best ones (except the stickies).

Outside the best-known appellations, Touraine-Azay le Rideau
offers CB at bargain prices, you might try Denis or Herpiniere.

It's not Chenin, but I find Romarantin to push the same buttons. Cliff, Kevin, and I all just posted on the '06 Cazin Cour Cheverny.

Lots of people think Foreau, Huet, and Chidaine are great QPR, although you'd have to spend more than $15.

For closer to $15 Pinon is a good bet.

Hard to beat when the best producer in the entire region has wines that go for $25. I know many like Pinon but I have the '97 Traditional and it is not aging well. The big guys go on forever.
Walt

Hi Dan, I see that you are looking at South African chenin wines already. Personally I find them to lean toward the drier side than say Vouvray, but I do like several of them. I found one a few days ago and liked it. I will check the name and get back to you. Also, I like the chenin from Dry Creek Vineyards, and the one from Weinstock (sp) both from California.I really really like the Vouvray you mentioned, but admire the Forrester regular bottle more than the petit for about $5 more.

I love Huet but for a bit less money both Champalou and Domaine des Aubuisières offer some very satisfying bottles, as others have said. I had the latter's 1996 Les Girardières (stable-mate to the Silex) last night and it was brilliant.

The American Chenin Blanc that I've had that was closest to the flavors from the Loire Valley was Chappellet's Old Vine Cuvée.

Lots of people think Foreau, Huet, and Chidaine are great QPR, although you'd have to spend more than $15.

For closer to $15 Pinon is a good bet.

Hard to beat when the best producer in the entire region has wines that go for $25. I know many like Pinon but I have the '97 Traditional and it is not aging well. The big guys go on forever.
Walt

I do agree, but was just trying to give a suggestion closer to his price range. And I think Huet and Foreau have crept up past $25, although still great value.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned (unless I skimmed over it, sorry) the CNW from Clarksdale.

The CNW stands for "Chard? No way!", and it is a decent little bottle of CB.

Among California CBs, I've really enjoyed Chappellet. $16 in my market. But I see a fair number of inexpensive Loire CBs here too.

I wasn't sure just what you were referring to Hoke, so I went googling. I see there is something called Vinum Cellars CNW, but I've never seen it here. I regularly drink the Dry Creek Vineyards chenin, and when I can find it the Weinstock as well. Both of those IMO are better than the Chapellett, mainly because that one is mixed with some viognier and I am not a big fan of viognier. I'll look into the Vinum Cellars wines though, given your thumbs up.

I wasn't sure just what you were referring to Hoke, so I went googling. I see there is something called Vinum Cellars CNW, but I've never seen it here. I regularly drink the Dry Creek Vineyards chenin, and when I can find it the Weinstock as well. Both of those IMO are better than the Chapellett, mainly because that one is mixed with some viognier and I am not a big fan of viognier. I'll look into the Vinum Cellars wines though, given your thumbs up.

Sorry, Bob, should have been clearer. Yep, the Vinum CNW is the one I meant.

The two guys who own the place are quirky---in a good way. Their CNW label has a photo of them hitching by the side of the highway, holding up a sign that says "Will Work For Chenin".

They also do a rose that gets some fans, btw.

And the price of their stuff tends to be right too.

Thanks Hoke. I'll see if I can order a 6-pak of their chenin. It's likely that I can't but maybe I can find a distributor in Ky and talk to them. Chenin along with marsanne and malvasia are three of my favorite white wine grapes, and I see precious little of it.

Sorry, Bob, should have been clearer. Yep, the Vinum CNW is the one I meant.

That's a new one for me, too, Hoke. Like Dale, I used to find Pine Ridge's CB/Viognier blend a good QPR white, but those days are gone now. The best examples of CA Chenin I've had come from the Anderson Valley, specifically from Husch and Navarro, though neither will make you forget about the Loire. If Lazy Creek's ever produced a Chenin, it's likely very good too.

Mark Lipton

[Robin Garr]

Thanks Hoke. I'll see if I can order a 6-pak of their chenin. It's likely that I can't but maybe I can find a distributor in Ky and talk to them. Chenin along with marsanne and malvasia are three of my favorite white wine grapes, and I see precious little of it.

Bob, I'm surprised you haven't seen Vinum. They make the CNW Chenin and also a fun Petite Sirah called PETS with a dog on the label, and donations from sales going to animal shelters.

Good, affordable stuff in the $10 range. I've seen it often at Liquor Barn, and have reported it in TNs, so my guess is that you just haven't been looking in the right place.

Thanks Robin, I suppose you are correct re me not looking in the right place. I will check the Liquor Barn out tomorrow. Right now the only Cal chenin I remember seeing is the the Pine ridge, and the Dry Creek Vineyard wines. saw a rather good SA chenin there for $9.99 though I need to check out the name.

Dry Creek Vineyards... and... Weinstock.... Both of those IMO are better than the Chapellett, mainly because that one is mixed with some viognier and I am not a big fan of viognier.

Chappellet's Old Vine Cuvée is 100% Chenin Blanc; they also make a lower level bottling, the Dry Chenin Blanc, which I haven't found especially dry and haven't liked so much; that one might be a blend with Viognier.