2019 “Fifth Moon” Chenin Blanc - RD Winery

Shaved lemon peel, dried hay, cider apple. Crushed Asian pear, chamomile tea, peach pit. An energetic and zesty parade of tart kumquat, grapefruit pith, and cantaloupe rind highlights a delightfully delicate yet pulpy fruit core interestingly complicated by notes of honeysuckle, scrub brush, and crushed stone. Dainty hints of peppermint and echinacea gently emerge to reveal layers of pretty herbal complexity while lavender and wildflowers impart intriguing floral overtones. Unique impressions of sunflower seeds and tumbleweeds expose underlying natural flair while suggestions of fine-grained soil reveal just a hint of earth. Fresh, youthful, and dry on the palate with subtle minerality and a wonderfully long and honeyed finish; exhibiting excellent purity and typicity while remaining food friendly and delicious. Medium in body while supported by beautifully high acidity. This 2019 "Fifth Moon" Chenin Blanc by RD Winery is a crisp, clean, and complex white from California's Sierra Foothills. 

Originally native to France's Loire Valley yet now found in many regions across the globe, Chenin Blanc is an ancient white wine grape that has the natural versatility to be produced in a diverse and intriguing range of wine styles. This bottling, crafted by RD Winery using Chenin Blanc sourced from the El Dorado subregion of the Sierra Foothills, showcases how this largely underappreciated variety has the potential to be shaped into truly unique and interesting wine. This effortlessly pops in the glass with a wonderful presentation of Chenin's textbook honeyed fruit and floral notes complimented by a pleasant dusting of wild and medicinal herbs. It is bright and energetic with an emphasis on elegance over concentration, and manages to maintain excellent balance and refreshment throughout. This is a well balanced and high quality expression of an always exciting grape.