Chenin Blanc 2024

Stolpman’s Chenin Blanc
In 2016, we sought out a rare strain of “yellow” Chenin Blanc that turns color before it reaches peak ripeness.   Once yellow, the resulting wine becomes substantial and mouth-filling rather than creating a leaner, crisper style.   We spent six vintages refining our winemaking approach to Chenin Blanc under our experimental “Combe” label.  We then launched the 2023 Stolpman Vineyards Estate Chenin Blanc and anyone who tasted the massively rich, decadent white wine fell in love. With our 2024 follow up effort, the wine is fancier and more delicate, another rockstar in the ever so compelling quiver of Stolpman white wines!
Healthy winter rain, almost mirroring 2023 precipitation pattern, set us off on a relatively late bud break. The vines naturally set a lighter crop than 2023, and minimal cluster thinning was needed as the vines had already balanced themselves. Summer proved beautifully moderate and weather didn’t warm up until the second week of September.  We took two harvest passes through the Chenin rows, an early pass, cherry-picking yellow fruit before the grapes lost acidity, and then we gave remaining clusters another 3 days to tan.
High-toned apple and lemon-lime with taut melon flesh streaking through the palate. The firmness softened with fizzy, titillating citrus.  Kissed with a richer Armagnac and crem flair, always a “tell” of a fine Chenin. Deceptively rich and mouth-filling as the wine floats through the palate so easily. An effortless, graceful swoosh through the mouth, the 2024 Chenin beautifully fits the bill for a smooth, medium-bodied white wine.