Waitsburg Cellars 2014 The Aromatics Cheninières Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley, $18

Wine critic Paul Gregutt, in collaboration with Seattle-based Precept Wine, has helped inspire the renewed and worthy embrace of old vine Chenin Blanc not only in the Pacific Northwest but also across the country with the Waitsburg Cellars brand. While the first two vintages focused on Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain, this branches up from the Yakima Valley and into the Rattlesnake Hills to also include Roza Hills Vineyard. It’s presented in a bone-dry, unoaked style, which allows for bright and approachable aromatics of lemon chiffon, lime zest, spearmint and JuicyFruit gum. The drink is sassy, serious and food friendly with the focus on lime over lemon with a squirt of gooseberry in the finish. Writer/retailer Paul Zitarelli of Seattle magazine and Full Pull Wines suggests trying the Cheninières with a creamy crab bisque.

Rating: Outstanding!

Production: 265 cases

Alcohol: 13.6%

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One Comment

1. Whole Foods Market wine buyer looks to set trends - Great Northwest Wine - Great Northwest Wine says:

   February 18, 2016 at 8:47 am

   […] Until recently, much of the Chenin Blanc readily available to folks in the Pacific Northwest was boring and too sweet. Klein said quality Chenin Blanc is making a revival, in part because of the price and producers such as L’Ecole No. 41 and Waitsburg Cellars. […]

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