Lang & Reed – Napa Valley Chenin Blanc 2019

When we began our exploration of Chenin Blanc, never could we have imagined that we would be on the wave of a California renaissance of this very noble variety. Almost lost in the dusty cellar of underappreciated wines in California, the demand for and the number of wineries producing Chenin Blanc has exploded in five short years. This 2019 Chenin Blanc is the sixth vintage from vineyards located in Mendocino County in Northern California. The inspiration remains the Loire Valley in France, where Chenin Blanc gained its fame. The source for this bottling comes from a region in Mendocino referred to as the Talmage Bench. The vineyard, located on the east side of the Russian River in an area that has excelled in growing Chenin Blanc for many years, was planted in 1978 on a gentle, north-facing slope with excellent aspect that allows for great drainage and even ripening without too much heat accumulation.