The nose is balanced and vibrant with fresh tones of peaches, nectarines, vanilla beans, Bosc pears, red apples, toast, and yellow flowers. This feels a touch coiled up, but it also has an expressive quality that is quite present. The Medium bodied feel shows off the balance of the nose with tart, medium+ acidity that has some mouthwatering qualities. This is quite good now, but it does feel like it can express itself better with a few years of aging.
The nose is balanced and fragrant with tones of brioche, toast, pears, vanilla beans, red apples, quince, some waxy notes, and yellow flowers. There is an open-knit quality to the nose, but it lacks a touch of depth compared to the other Sandlands Chenins. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and textured with tart, medium+ acidity. The acidity is mouthwatering but the feel lacks depth as does the nose. Maybe this is in a bit of a dumb phase and could use a few years to really express itself.
The nose is aromatic and melded with well balanced tones of nectarines, peaches, red apples, yellow flowers, flinty notes, bosc pears, some waxy tones, and a touch of saline. This is showing the kind of balance and refinement that comes with age. The Medium bodied feel shows off the balance of the nose with some good depth and expressive qualities on the feel along with tart, high acidity. The acidity is integrated and so balanced while the finish is showing off good persistence. This is drinking so beautifully right now and really shows off how California Chenin can age!
There is a pristine nature to the nose that is attractive and fresh with balanced tones of white fruits, pears, lemon grass, fresh herbs, peaches, apples, white flowers, a touch of nectarines, and some saline. This really leans into a more spring-like nature that is really fun to stick your nose into. The Medium bodied feel is vibrant and fresh with racy, high acidity that has some serious cut. I dig this. I dig this alot. There is a lot of freshness and precision to this while still showing off some lovely citrus notes.
The nose is fresh and fragrant with tones of peaches, red apples, pears, nectarines, meyer lemons, saline, and vanilla beans. There is nice fragrance and freshness, but this lacks some depth and complexity. The Medium bodied feel shows off the freshness of the nose with tart, high acidity that comes off with a bit of sting. This is fun and fresh, but it doesn't show off the complexity that the Lyman Ranch does.
The nose is balanced and upfront with tones of apples, quince, meyer lemons, nectarines, yellow flowers, flint notes, and some stone fruits. While this shows off good balance, it lacks some depth and expression. The Medium bodied feel shows off the balance of the nose with crisp, medium+ acidity that has some mouthwatering qualities. This is very good and balanced, but it doesn't show off a lot of depth or expression.
The nose is fresh and aromatic with tones of peaches, white fruits, lemon oils, nectarines, yellow flowers, fresh herbs, red apples, and pears. The nose is lovely and deft as it really leans into freshness. The Medium bodied feel is deft and balanced with crisp, medium+ acidity that makes your mouth water. This is excellent and shows off a good bit of freshness and elegance that is attractive and balanced.
The nose is succulent and fragrant with flowing tones of red apples, nectarines, some wooly notes, lemon peels, toast, vanilla beans, and a touch of elderflowers. There is a refined nature that has that touch of wild/wooliness that Chenin blanc can bring. The Medium bodied feel is refined and balanced with crisp, high acidity that has some excellent cut. This is really damned good. It could likely use a few years to fully round into form, but it shows a great intersection between a Savennieres style and California fruit.
There is a lovely, flinty characteristic that is present right away before it peels back into well balanced tones of red apples, pears, meyer lemons, jasmine notes, nectarines, kumquat, and some apple blossoms. There is excellent and balance with an expression side already. The Medium bodied feel shows off the balance and style of the nose with tart, high acidity that persists. This is extremely good right now and feels like it has even more to give with a few more years. This was a real standout on the day.
There is a touch of cidery qualities to the nose that give way into fresh notes of candied lemons, green apples, peaches, pears, yellow flowers, tart citrus, and some tangerines. This is open and giving, if a touch candied. The Medium bodied feel is fresh and vibrant with racy, high acidity that really makes your mouth water. If the candied element of the fruit can come into better balance, this could well kick it up a notch.
The nose shows off some lovely freshness that takes on a spring-like nature with tones of lemon peels, white peaches, quince, acacia flowers, pears, cinnamon sticks, apples, and some saline notes. There is a real pristine quality to the nose that is inviting and elegant. The Medium bodied feel is fresh and vibrant with tart, high acidity that has some serious cut. The acidity is more vertical, and it does dominate a bit at the moment to where this would likely benefit from at least 3+ years of aging to round out.
The nose is classy, deep, and poised with complex tones of lemon peels, a lot of salty notes, saline, pears, red apples, peach blossoms, nectarines, and vanilla notes. This is expressive, yet it feels like it is holding back a touch. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and refined with crisp, high acidity that has some excellent cut. There is a lot to like here right now, but it also has a lot more to give. It feels like its holding back while the acidity also shows off some sting.
The nose is rounded and balanced with elegant tones of stone fruits, nectarines, red apples, pears, saline, creamed peaches, toast, yellow flowers, and some vanilla notes. There is excellent depth and poise as all of the tones meld well together. The Medium bodied feel is textured and balanced with tart, high acidity that makes your mouth water. This is hitting all of the notes right now. The citrus and secondary flavors are working in perfect harmony to allow this some serious expression.
The nose is fresh, fragrant, and lifted with tones of white fruits, green apples, saline, lemon peels, fresh herbs, sweet peaches, cinnamon spices, papaya, and some juicy citrus notes. There is a bit of tropical-ness to the fruit that is sunny, but slightly lacking in depth and definition. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and fresh with crisp, medium+ acidity that is refreshing. This is a fun and lively Chenin Blanc, but it doesn't bring the complexity and intrigue of others that were available at the tasting.
The nose is fresh and lifted with tones of peaches, red apples, nectarines, pears, apple blossoms, lemon oils, and some meyer lemons. This is a more citrus-centric take to the grape and is pretty enjoyable. The Medium bodied feel is well balanced yet fresh with tart, medium+ acidity. The acidity has some fun, refreshing qualities that give some persistence but doesn't overpower.
The nose is quixotic and intriguing as the skin contact adds in a bit extra with tones of cinnamon spices, red apples, quince, nectarines, meyer lemons, crushed rocks, licorice notes, and some fresh herbs. The Medium bodied feel is deft and poised with crisp, medium+ acidity that really makes your mouth water. I love the duality between this and their regular chenin. I think this brings a bit more and certainly a different style as the skin contact changes it up.
There is a coolness to the nose that is attractive and on the back end of the beat with fresh and balanced tones of nectarines, apples, pears, some toast, quince, yellow flowers, vanilla beans, and a touch of cinnamon spices. This is really pretty and yet it feels like its holding back a touch. The Medium bodied feel is deft and textured with tart, medium+ acidity that leads into an excellent and pleasing finish. This is really lovely and one that can likely get even better with another 3-5+ years of age.
2023 Sandlands Chenin Blanc Amador County 90 Points
USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
The nose is balanced and vibrant with fresh tones of peaches, nectarines, vanilla beans, Bosc pears, red apples, toast, and yellow flowers. This feels a touch coiled up, but it also has an expressive quality that is quite present. The Medium bodied feel shows off the balance of the nose with tart, medium+ acidity that has some mouthwatering qualities. This is quite good now, but it does feel like it can express itself better with a few years of aging.
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2019 Sandlands Chenin Blanc Amador County 89 Points
USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
The nose is balanced and fragrant with tones of brioche, toast, pears, vanilla beans, red apples, quince, some waxy notes, and yellow flowers. There is an open-knit quality to the nose, but it lacks a touch of depth compared to the other Sandlands Chenins. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and textured with tart, medium+ acidity. The acidity is mouthwatering but the feel lacks depth as does the nose. Maybe this is in a bit of a dumb phase and could use a few years to really express itself.
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2014 Sandlands Chenin Blanc Napa Valley 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
The nose is aromatic and melded with well balanced tones of nectarines, peaches, red apples, yellow flowers, flinty notes, bosc pears, some waxy tones, and a touch of saline. This is showing the kind of balance and refinement that comes with age. The Medium bodied feel shows off the balance of the nose with some good depth and expressive qualities on the feel along with tart, high acidity. The acidity is integrated and so balanced while the finish is showing off good persistence. This is drinking so beautifully right now and really shows off how California Chenin can age!
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2023 Pax Chenin Blanc Lyman Ranch 91 Points
USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
There is a pristine nature to the nose that is attractive and fresh with balanced tones of white fruits, pears, lemon grass, fresh herbs, peaches, apples, white flowers, a touch of nectarines, and some saline. This really leans into a more spring-like nature that is really fun to stick your nose into. The Medium bodied feel is vibrant and fresh with racy, high acidity that has some serious cut. I dig this. I dig this alot. There is a lot of freshness and precision to this while still showing off some lovely citrus notes.
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2023 Pax Chenin Blanc Helios 89 Points
USA, California
The nose is fresh and fragrant with tones of peaches, red apples, pears, nectarines, meyer lemons, saline, and vanilla beans. There is nice fragrance and freshness, but this lacks some depth and complexity. The Medium bodied feel shows off the freshness of the nose with tart, high acidity that comes off with a bit of sting. This is fun and fresh, but it doesn't show off the complexity that the Lyman Ranch does.
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2024 Brookdale Vineyards Chenin Blanc Mason Road 88 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Paarl
The nose is balanced and upfront with tones of apples, quince, meyer lemons, nectarines, yellow flowers, flint notes, and some stone fruits. While this shows off good balance, it lacks some depth and expression. The Medium bodied feel shows off the balance of the nose with crisp, medium+ acidity that has some mouthwatering qualities. This is very good and balanced, but it doesn't show off a lot of depth or expression.
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2023 Spice Route Chenin Blanc Tarragon Old Vine 89 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
The nose is fresh and aromatic with tones of peaches, white fruits, lemon oils, nectarines, yellow flowers, fresh herbs, red apples, and pears. The nose is lovely and deft as it really leans into freshness. The Medium bodied feel is deft and balanced with crisp, medium+ acidity that makes your mouth water. This is excellent and shows off a good bit of freshness and elegance that is attractive and balanced.
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2023 Las Jaras Wines Chenin Blanc Cezanne Norgard Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
The nose is succulent and fragrant with flowing tones of red apples, nectarines, some wooly notes, lemon peels, toast, vanilla beans, and a touch of elderflowers. There is a refined nature that has that touch of wild/wooliness that Chenin blanc can bring. The Medium bodied feel is refined and balanced with crisp, high acidity that has some excellent cut. This is really damned good. It could likely use a few years to fully round into form, but it shows a great intersection between a Savennieres style and California fruit.
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2022 Las Jaras Wines Chenin Blanc Cuvée Esmé Anne Norgard Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino
There is a lovely, flinty characteristic that is present right away before it peels back into well balanced tones of red apples, pears, meyer lemons, jasmine notes, nectarines, kumquat, and some apple blossoms. There is excellent and balance with an expression side already. The Medium bodied feel shows off the balance and style of the nose with tart, high acidity that persists. This is extremely good right now and feels like it has even more to give with a few more years. This was a real standout on the day.
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2023 Leo Steen Chenin Blanc Peaberry 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
There is a touch of cidery qualities to the nose that give way into fresh notes of candied lemons, green apples, peaches, pears, yellow flowers, tart citrus, and some tangerines. This is open and giving, if a touch candied. The Medium bodied feel is fresh and vibrant with racy, high acidity that really makes your mouth water. If the candied element of the fruit can come into better balance, this could well kick it up a notch.
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2023 Leo Steen Chenin Blanc The Steen Jurassic Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
The nose shows off some lovely freshness that takes on a spring-like nature with tones of lemon peels, white peaches, quince, acacia flowers, pears, cinnamon sticks, apples, and some saline notes. There is a real pristine quality to the nose that is inviting and elegant. The Medium bodied feel is fresh and vibrant with tart, high acidity that has some serious cut. The acidity is more vertical, and it does dominate a bit at the moment to where this would likely benefit from at least 3+ years of aging to round out.
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2023 Littorai Chenin Blanc The Haven 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
The nose is classy, deep, and poised with complex tones of lemon peels, a lot of salty notes, saline, pears, red apples, peach blossoms, nectarines, and vanilla notes. This is expressive, yet it feels like it is holding back a touch. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and refined with crisp, high acidity that has some excellent cut. There is a lot to like here right now, but it also has a lot more to give. It feels like its holding back while the acidity also shows off some sting.
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2016 Littorai Chenin Blanc The Haven 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
The nose is rounded and balanced with elegant tones of stone fruits, nectarines, red apples, pears, saline, creamed peaches, toast, yellow flowers, and some vanilla notes. There is excellent depth and poise as all of the tones meld well together. The Medium bodied feel is textured and balanced with tart, high acidity that makes your mouth water. This is hitting all of the notes right now. The citrus and secondary flavors are working in perfect harmony to allow this some serious expression.
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2024 Chappellet Chenin Blanc 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
The nose is fresh, fragrant, and lifted with tones of white fruits, green apples, saline, lemon peels, fresh herbs, sweet peaches, cinnamon spices, papaya, and some juicy citrus notes. There is a bit of tropical-ness to the fruit that is sunny, but slightly lacking in depth and definition. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and fresh with crisp, medium+ acidity that is refreshing. This is a fun and lively Chenin Blanc, but it doesn't bring the complexity and intrigue of others that were available at the tasting.
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2024 Margins Chenin Blanc 90 Points
USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg
The nose is fresh and lifted with tones of peaches, red apples, nectarines, pears, apple blossoms, lemon oils, and some meyer lemons. This is a more citrus-centric take to the grape and is pretty enjoyable. The Medium bodied feel is well balanced yet fresh with tart, medium+ acidity. The acidity has some fun, refreshing qualities that give some persistence but doesn't overpower.
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2024 Margins Chenin Blanc Skin Fermented 91 Points
USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg
The nose is quixotic and intriguing as the skin contact adds in a bit extra with tones of cinnamon spices, red apples, quince, nectarines, meyer lemons, crushed rocks, licorice notes, and some fresh herbs. The Medium bodied feel is deft and poised with crisp, medium+ acidity that really makes your mouth water. I love the duality between this and their regular chenin. I think this brings a bit more and certainly a different style as the skin contact changes it up.
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2023 DuMOL Chenin Blanc 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
There is a coolness to the nose that is attractive and on the back end of the beat with fresh and balanced tones of nectarines, apples, pears, some toast, quince, yellow flowers, vanilla beans, and a touch of cinnamon spices. This is really pretty and yet it feels like its holding back a touch. The Medium bodied feel is deft and textured with tart, medium+ acidity that leads into an excellent and pleasing finish. This is really lovely and one that can likely get even better with another 3-5+ years of age.
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