Dry Creek Vineyard has produced a dry Chenin Blanc every year for 45 years. This vintage, with fruit from the Sacramento Delta, was fermented in stainless.
The robe is pale clear yellow with a fragrance of lemony-melon and white peaches, plus a tinge of tropical decadence—pineapple, almost banana. The body is rounded and lush with ripe pear and peaches and a shot of herbs. While it’s a somewhat soft overall (the pH is a shade high for a white wine), its faint spritziness is compensatory, the prickly texture enlivening.
Pair it with medium-aged cheeses—nothing too acidic; it’ll work like quince paste on the cheese plate. Versatile with richer fish or poultry preparations and creamy pasta, or simply serve it as an aperitif with roasted almonds, cheese straws, and charcuterie.
13% abv | $15 (sample)
