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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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