Humpday Tipples, Volume Eight: Chenin Blanc, August 25, 2010

Chenin Blanc

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The Humpday Tipples, Volume Eight: Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc Tasting: August 25, 2010

Chenin Blanc can be made still or sparkling, dry or sweet, and without aggressive management it will yield a lot of fruit. No wonder it's been a jug wine staple for so long. No jugs here though: We tasted six bottles from Chenin Blanc's native Loire as well as South Africa and Washington State.

We finally figured out that it might be fun to take photos of the meal as well. For our first course, Scott made a delicious tuna confit with a recipe from Eleven Madison Park by way of Florence Fabricant.

Tuna Confit For Chenin Blanc Tasting: August 25, 2010

The main dish was chicken, peanut, and broccoli stir fry (Scott tweaked a Kung Pao Chicken recipe) served over basmati rice.

Kung Pao Chicken For Chenin Blanc Tasting: August 25, 2010

Jennifer made a cornmeal cake for dessert, tweaking this recipe from Everyday Food by using roasted cornmeal and swapping lemon zest for orange. It came together in minutes, and probably because the recipe calls for wine, it made a great ending to the meal.

Olive Oil Cake For Chenin Blanc Tasting: August 25, 2010

Bottle 1: Saumur Blanc Réserve des Vignerons 2009, Loire Valley, France ($7.99)

Rank Amateurs Said: pale yellow color, pineapple and acacia in the nose, high acidity, light body, crisp on the finish

In a Word: Fresh

Paired with Food: Didn't stand up well to the food, too light

2009 Saumur Blanc Réserve des Vignerons

Bottle 2: Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc 2009, Stellenbosch, South Africa ($9.96)

Rank Amateurs Said: pale yellow color, honey, pineapple, and peach in the nose, high acidity, medium body, short finish

In a Word: Honey

Paired with Food: Perfect foil for the salty tuna confit

2009 Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc

Bottle 3: McKinley Springs Horse Heaven Hills Chenin Blanc 2007, Columbia Valley, WA ($16.99)

Rank Amateurs Said: pale yellow color, minerals, honey, green apple, and star anise in the nose, "smells like Ireland," musty cheeseboard, honeycomb, licorice, band aids, medium acidity, medium body, hot on the finish

In a Word: Rain

Paired with Food: Spice came out with the chicken stir fry

2007 McKinley Springs Horse Heaven Hills Chenin Blanc

Bottle 4: Huët Vouvray Le Mont Sec 2006, Loire Valley, France ($36.99)

Rank Amateurs Said: straw yellow color, acacia, almonds, cheese rinds, minerals, beeswax, and honeysuckle in the nose, high acidity, medium body, rounded, long finish

In a Word: Mineral

Paired with Food: Went well with all the food

2006 Huët Vouvray Le Mont Sec

Bottle 5: Château d'Epiré Savennières Cuvée Spéciale 2008, Loire Valley, France ($21.99)

Rank Amateurs Said: golden yellow color, pear, quince, wet stones, white flowers, earth, beeswax, and brioche in the nose, high acidity, mineral, slight honey, French toast, custard, medium body, long finish

In a Word: Complex

Paired with Food: Flavors evolved with the meal, fruit came out with the tuna dish

2008 Château d'Epiré Savennières Cuvée Spéciale

Bottle 6: Nicolas Joly Savennières Les Clos Sacrés 2007, Loire Valley, France ($46.97)

Rank Amateurs Said: decanted, rich honey gold color, wet hay, honey, honeycomb, and dust in the nose, acidity, "McNugget with honey," full body, slightly hot on the finish

In a Word: Chewy

Paired with Food: Flavors evolved from opening to decanter to glasses as the night went on, kept opening up, paired well with chicken dish

2007 Nicolas Joly Savennières Les Clos Sacrés