A Chenin… on an Autumn Sunday

What a pleasure to enjoy the garden and the last few rays of sunshine that this beautiful Indian summer has to offer. An unusual autumn Sunday in the company of a lovely Chenin Blanc from Domaine de Beauvent in Bernex (and my sweetheart too, of course!!!).

A delightful discovery recommended to us by the wine expert at Manor. We’re thoroughly enjoying the last moments of this wonderful weekend (and we hope you are too!).

Originally from the Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc is also known as "Pinot Blanc de Loire". This grape variety expresses itself beautifully in the terroirs of Anjou and Touraine.

It is also said to have been known as "Chenin Noir", as it was believed to have originated from a selection of Pineau d’Aunis, a red grape variety.

Resistant to disease, Chenin Blanc adapts well to a wide variety of soils and climates.

With its beautiful golden-yellow colour, Chenin Blanc offers an elegant structure on the palate, a delicate hint of bitterness and, above all, a vibrant acidity that gives it excellent ageing potential. This remarkable acidity also allows the grape to reveal its many different facets, producing wines in a wide range of styles: dry, off-dry, lusciously sweet or even sparkling...

Among the best-known appellations are Anjou (around 2%), Saumur and Savennières. A special mention goes to Eric Morgat and his FIDES, a magnificent Chenin Blanc grown on four different types of schist soils. When harvested late, Chenin Blanc can also be affected by Botrytis cinerea, the fungus responsible for noble rot. Through successive selective harvests, as practised in Alsace, it produces exceptional sweet wines of remarkable complexity, particularly in appellations such as Coteaux de l’Aubance and Coteaux du Layon.

The finest lusciously sweet Chenin Blanc wines can be cellared for more than 50 years, developing extraordinary depth and complexity over time.

From Cape Town to the Loire Valley in France, Chenin Blanc reveals a wonderfully rich and diverse aromatic palette: acacia blossom, lemon, pear, honey, almond, quince, peach, pineapple, mango, dried apricot, mint, cloves and so much more...

I particularly love pairing it with a traditional French goat’s cheese, such as Crottin de Chavignol, but also with one of my all-time favourite dishes: Breton sole served with caper berries and lemon.

Pineau des Charentes… a Pineau not to be confused with any other!

The Charente and Charente-Maritime regions are also home to a distinctive fortified wine known as Pineau des Charentes. It is made from fresh grape must, to which Cognac produced on the same wine estate is added to prevent fermentation.

White Pineau des Charentes is mainly produced from grape varieties such as Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, while the red varieties are primarily made from Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot.

The wine is aged in oak barrels for 8 to 18 months, or even several years, depending on the style of Pineau des Charentes.