Wine Of The Month: T. Berkley Norgard Vineyard Chenin Blanc

Forbes Lifestyle Spirits Wine Of The Month: T. Berkley Norgard Vineyard Chenin Blanc Lana Bortolot Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Following Jul 31, 2023, 06:53pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A North Coast Chenin that finds a home outside Loire Valley An earthy, savory, waxy and all-around delish Chenin Blanc T.

Berkely Wines Here’s a taste of the Loire Valley without the trans-Atlantic trip. Produced from old vines (43 years) on the Talmage bench, in the northern most part of the Mayacamas mountain range, this rich and layered Chenin Blanc from T. Berkley Wines will transport you to the spiritual home of the grape in the Loire.

It’s an almost full-bodied wine with layers of warm yellow fruit (think yellow apples ripening on a wooden bowl on the counter, preferably in a French kitchen), Meyer lemon curd and beeswax all wrapped in a honeycomb envelope. But despite its richness and texture, this is a wine with a bright acidity that cuts through comfort dishes such as grilled sausage and white beans, your mom’s creamy mac n’ cheese. It’s a pleasure to hold in your mouth and savor before letting it lead you to its uplifted herbal finish.

Unusual in these times and for this variety, the Norgard 2021 is foot tread—a decision, the winemaker says, that pays “homage to some of the great Grüner Veltiners I helped craft while working at Weingut Knoll in the Wachau. ” After treading, the wine has skin contact for about eight hours and spends 11 months on its lees, all contributing to the creamy, textured and satisfying mouthfeel. It’s both luxurious and down to earth.

The foot-treading Californian vigernon is Taylor Berkley Boydstun, an Old- and New-World trained winemaker with a keen focus on Loire Valley varieties. “Cabernet Franc was the wine that inspired me to pursue winemaking as a career, and my exploration of Cab Francs from around the world led me to the Loire Valley, where I doubly fell in love with the dry, mineral-driven Chenin Blancs that are so prevalent there,” he says. “Upon learning of Chenin’s long history and importance to California grape growing—and its relative obscurity among most consumers—I decided that highlighting these transplants would be the focus of my winemaking.

” Winemaker Taylor Berkley Boydstun T. Berkley Wines MORE FOR YOU Celebrate IPA Day With A Primer Into The Popular Beer Style The Legendary Cocktail Bar Angel’s Share Reopens: The Founder’s Daughter Has Revived Its History For The Future Bitcoin, Burgers, And Beer: Community On Tap At PubKey The parcel from which this Chenin is made (only 210 cases) is farmed organically, a practice that reflects Boydstun’s low-intervention philosophy, honed while working at biodynamic pioneer Felton Road on New Zealand’s South Island. At his winery, he uses native yeast and favors extended aging in concrete and neutral French oak puncheons (400 and 500-liter) form five to 13 years old.

“I attempt to hold true to the winemaking mantra that sometimes the most important thing to do is nothing at all,” Boydstun says. “That being said, it is my goal to bottle an expression of place and time in its true form while also making a wine that tastes delicious … so pragmatism wins over dogmatism every time. ” T.

Berkley Norgard Vineyard Chenin Blanc is available via direct shipping from the winery; SRP is $32. Follow me on LinkedIn . Check out some of my other work here .

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