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All the medallists from the Global Chenin Blanc Masters 2024

Chenin Blanc’s huge versatility and ability to age well make it a grape variety that deserves more of the limelight, reports Patricia Stefanowicz MW.

Chenin Blanc is remarkably versatile, as the judges found in this year’s Global Chenin Blanc Masters competition. The variety produces some of the finest and most age-worthy sweet and dry white wines, with or without oak, as well as sparkling expressions.

The Loire Valley is Chenin Blanc’s historic territory and probably its birthplace. Here it makes elegant Crémant de Loire, sparkling Saumur and sparkling Vouvray. But Chenin’s most renowned wines are the late-picked sweet wines of Coteaux du Layon and the botrytisinfluenced Vouvray, Montlouis, Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume. These wines have high sugar levels balanced by bracing acidity that allows the wines to evolve for decades.

But one must certainly not ignore the dry, medium-dry and medium-sweet Chenin wines. The best examples show delicious flavours of honey, lemon, custard and yellow fruits with a chalky, mineral backbone. This year, the French wines we judged validate exactly what connoisseurs love about the variety, displaying concentrated flavours and intriguing texture, as well as being good value for money.

The sparkling wines from Bouvet Ladubay, and Maison Ackerman’s sparkling Saumur, are pristine. The dry, still wines from organic and biodynamic Domaine Bonnigal-Bodet are a revelation and, although expensive, Domaine du Closel’s Savennières Clos du Papillon is well worth searching out for its great intensity and length. This is a wine with which to celebrate a special occasion. Because Loire Valley Chenin Blanc was loved by the Dutch, Chenin grapes were brought to South Africa in the 17th century and planted by the colonists there. Today, it’s the most planted variety in the country, with more than 18,000 hectares, nearly twice as much as France. Unoaked South African Chenin makes a sensational, easy-drinking aperitif, while oaked styles are beautifully balanced, with hazelnut and toast accenting creamy custard and lemon flavours.

The best examples show extra ripeness, with passionfruit, guava and pineapple shining through rapier acidity. There is great value at every price point, with wines at £10–£15 and £15–£20 showing particularly well, especially from Nederburg, Durbanville Hills and Koelenhof. Old vines can be certified in South Africa if 35-plus years old, and wines from Dalkeith, Stellenrust, Vondeling and Spier won over the judges. Elsewhere, Big Head Winery in eastern Canada produces concentrated, stylish wines with consistency across vintages, indicating the region’s capability for serious Chenin. Okanagan in western Canada and neighbouring Washington State also seem to be successful. Herzog in California gave us a couple of intriguing wines – and Fratelli from Maharastra in India is producing awardwinning examples too.

With balance, texture, lively acidity and, often, carefully handled oak, the judges agreed that more attention should be paid to Chenin by today’s wine consumers.

Sparkling 100% Chenin Blanc

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vint Medal
£15-£20
Domaine Jean-Paul Couamais Suprême Vouvray Loire Valley France 2021 Silver
Château de Valmer Vouvray Méthode Traditionnelle Fines Bulles Loire Valley France 2019 Silver

Still Unoaked 100% Chenin Blanc

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Castel Frères Plessis Duval Chenin Blanc Loire Valley France 2023 Silver
£10-£15
Spier Wine Farm Good Natured Chenin Blanc Coastal South Africa 2023 Master
Terre d’Agrumes Vouvray Loire Valley France 2022 Silver
Fratelli Wines Chenin Blanc Maharashtra India 2024 Silver
El Enemigo Chenin Blanc Tunuyán Argentina 2022 Silver
Herzog Wine Cellars Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc California USA 2023 Silver
Domaine de Beauclair Clos des Quarts Vouvray Loire Valley France 2023 Silver
Domaine Jean-Paul Couamais Alcôve Vouvray France 2022 Bronze
£15-£20
Maison Darragon Le Haut des Ruettes Loire Valley France 2023 Gold
Château de Valmer Vouvray Sec Loire Valley France 2022 Gold
Maison Darragon Les Tuffes Loire Valley France 2023 Silver
£20-£30
Big Head Wines RAW Chenin Blanc Niagara Lakeshore Canada 2022 Gold
Tagaris Made with Organic Chenin Blanc Washington State USA 2023 Bronze

Still Oaked 100% Chenin Blanc

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vint Medal
Under £10
Flagstone Wines Tributary Chenin Blanc Costal Region South Africa 2022 Silver
£10-£15
Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Anchorman Old Vine Swartland South Africa 2023 Gold
Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The Cape Garden Durbanville South Africa 2023 Gold
Château la Varière Les Verègres Loire Valley France 2022 Silver
Spier Wine Farm Seaward Chenin Blanc Costal Region South Africa 2023 Silver
£15-£20
Koelenhof Winery Stellenbosch 1697 Bush Vine Stellenbosch South Africa 2022 Master
Koelenhof Winery Stellenbosch 1697 Bush Vine Stellenbosch South Africa 2023 Gold
Perdeberg Winery The Dry Land Collection Barrel Fermened Paal South Africa 2023 Gold
Domaine de Gerfau Anjou Blanc Anjou France 2022 Silver
Ken Forrester Wines Old Vine Reserve Chenin Western Cape South Africa 2023 Silver
£15-£20
Koelenhof Winery Stellenbosch 1679 Bush Vine Stellenbosch South Africa 2022 Master
Koelenhof Winery Stellenbosch 1679 Bush Vine Stellenbosch South Africa 2023 Gold
Perdeberg Wines The Dry Land Collection Barrel Fermented Paarl South Africa 2023 Gold
Domaine du Gerfaut Anjou Blanc Anjou France 2022 Silver
Ken Forrester Wines Old Vine Reserve Chenin Western Cape South Africa 2023 Silver
£20-£30
Spier Wine Farm 21 Gables Chenin Blanc Cape Town South Africa 2022 Master
Domaine Bonnigal-Bodet Le Buisson Loire Valley France 2022 Gold
Stellenrust 59 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch South Africa 2023 Gold
Château de Mercuès Chenin Occitanie France 2022 Silver
Domaine des Hauts Perrays Anjou Blanc La Gargouille Loire Valley France 2022 Silver
Perdeberg Wines Endura Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc Paardeberg South Africa 2022 Silver
£30-£50
Herzog Wine Cellars Special Reserve Chenin Blanc Clarksburg USA 2023 Master
Domaine Bonnigal-Bodet Huis Clos Loire Valley France 2022 Gold
Dalkeith Kalmoesfontein Chenin Blanc Swartland South Africa 2023 Gold
Vondeling Wines Bowwood Chenin Blanc Western Cape South Africa 2022 Gold
Big Head Wines Lipinski Family Chenin Blanc Niagara Canada 2022 Gold
Château de Villeneuve Les Cormiers Loire Valley France 2022 Silver
Dalkeith Koplandsteen Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch South Africa 2023 Silver
£50-£70
Domaine du Closel Savennieres Cols du Papillion Loire Valley France 2022 Master

 

Fortified 100% Chenin Blanc

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vint Medal
£15-£20
Perdeberg Wines The Dry Land Collection Fortified Chenin Blanc Paarl South Africa 2022 Gold

Sparkling Blend

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vint Medal
£10-£15
Maison Ackerman Ackerman Saumur Blanc Brut Royal Loire Valley France 2017 Gold
Fratelli Wines Gran Cuvée Brut Maharashtra India 2023 Silver
£15-£20
Bouvet Ladubay Trésor Saumur Brut Loire Valley France 2020 Gold
Bouvet Ladubay Saphir Saumur Brut Loire Valley France 2021 Silver
£20-£30
Monmousseau Crémant de Loire Cuvée Orfèvre Loire Valley France 2020 Silver

Still Unoaked Blend

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vint Medal
£10-£15
Durbanville Hills Chenin Blanc Durbanville South Africa 2024 Silver

 

Still Oaked Blend

Winery Name of Wine Region Country Vint Medal
£15-£20
Bruce Jack Wines Ghost in the Machine Chenin Blanc Western Cape South Africa 2022 Silver
£20-£30
Ken Forrester Wines Fairy Dust Piekenierskloof South Africa 2023 Bronze

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Chenin Blanc Masters provides a chance for your wines to shine. The 2024 competition was judged on 4 July at COMO The Halkin in London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Chenin Blanc Master. This report features the medal winners only. Please visit the Global Masters website for more information or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com

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