Wine |
Quails’ Gate Chenin Blanc 2009 |
Appellation |
Okanagan Valley |
Grape Varietal |
Chenin Blanc (94%), Sauvignon Blanc (6%) |
Alcohol % |
13 |
Price |
$18.99 |
Quantity |
3,739 cases |
Where to get it |
Winery, wine stores and restaurants |
Point score |
89-91 |
Here is the quintessential white wine for shell fish and most other seafood. It has clean, focussed fruit flavours – apples, pineapples, and citrus. The minerality of the wine, combined with the bright acidity, zip across the palate to leave a long but refreshing finish.
One reason for the appeal of the wine is its complex winemaking. To make the wine, the grapes were whole-bunched pressed. While 80% of the juice was fermented in stainless steel – that accounts for the pristine flavours – 20% was barrel-fermented in two-year-old French oak. That accounts for the good weight on the palate. The dash of Sauvignon Blanc lifts the fruitiness of the wine.
While the wine is delicious now, it would be worth setting some aside to age for several years. The acid will mellow and the wine will also acquire a honeyed note, even while still finish dry.
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