Chalone 2018 Chenin Blanc   

2018 Chalone Chenin Blanc “Estate” Chalone District

NVWE Notes: Fruit forward and notably bright at opening, this wine offers aromas of baked apple, poached pear, quince, vanilla wafer and hazelnut meringue. The initial palate impression is of almost sweet richness, yet this fades with airing to expose a hard-edged minerality which  serves to temper the opulence of the rich pear, apple, quince, kumquat and hazelnut meringue flavors. Most years of this fabled bottling appreciate some cellar time, but this vintage seems closer to maturity. It will be a fine dinner companion as well as an attractive sipper. 175 cases produced, from 90 year old vines.