2016 Mendocino County Chenin Blanc - T. Berkley Wines

Crunchy green pear, candied ginger, kiwi. Orange blossom, eucalyptus, unbaked sourdough. Gooseberry and a lime wedge, cardamom and sweet spices. Distinct river stone minerality. Like reeds swaying in the breeze next to a trickling stream on a lazy afternoon. There's not a hair out of place here. This 2016 Mendocino County Chenin Blanc by T. Berkley Wines is terrior driven Loire style Chenin from coastal Northern California.

Chenin Blanc is one of the noble white grapes of the Loire Valley in North Western France. While it has successfully gained traction in places like South Africa, Chenin has never really taken a strong foothold in California. There are a few Californian producers working with the varietal and some are making terrifically interesting wines. This bottling, by T. Berkley Wines, was sourced from the cool Mendocino County AVA north of Sonoma County. The grapes were picked at a relatively low brix to retain acidity and were left to macerate on the skins for a day. After fermentation the wine was allowed to age on the lees for four months in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel. The resulting wine is full of life with a captivating mineral undertone and a fresh slightly tart fruit profile - all at 12.4% ABV. California Chenin may not have had its hay day yet, but we hope it's coming soon.