New World: Chenin Blanc
2015: Gold 2 Silver 4 Bronze 5 Commended 3
2014: Gold 2 Silver 2 Bronze 3 Commended 5
This is a category in the rudest of health. From cheap to expensive, oaked to unoaked and dry to off-dry, it delivered high-quality wines at good prices. Yes, the wines might take a bit of pushing (either through recommendation or by the glass) but the overall standard here was truly impressive.
Down the years we’ve had the odd interloper in the medal table from California or New Zealand, but increasingly this is all about South Africa, which seems to have created a definitive style all of its own, much like the Kiwis did with Sauvignon Blanc.
Best of all was the pricing. Last year, our tasters found no Gold-Listed wines under £10. This year, there were plenty, throughout the medals. Well worth exploring.
From The Tasting Teams
‘Unfortunately Chenin Blanc is not a go-to variety in the on-trade. But I am sure you could convince many Chardonnay fans to have a glass of these. Overall quality here was very good.’ Sandro Lyhs, Oxo Tower Bar
‘There were some really good examples of Chenin here, particularly at the less expensive price-points. The entry-level wines showed varietal typicity, lovely and fresh. I’ve used them a lot to go with Thai food and they’re incredibly successful.’ Annette Scarfe MW, team leader
‘The lighter, entry-level styles can be good summertime wines, providing cheap and uncomplicated drinking for people getting tired of Sauvignon Blanc. But the best of these wines were the more complex, richer wines higher up the scale, which offer complexity and interesting food matching possibilities.’ Sara Bachiorri, Chez Bruce