So whats the big fuss about Chenin Blanc?
Chenin blanc (known also as Pineau de la Loire among other names), is a white wine grape variety from the Loire valley of France. Its high acidity means it can be used to make everything from sparkling wines to well-balanced dessert wines, although it can produce very bland, neutral wines if the vine's natural vigor is not controlled. Outside the Loire it is found in most of the New World wine regions; it is the most widely planted variety in South Africa, where it is also known as Steen
Chenin blanc is probably the world's most versatile grape being able to produce quality wines of various sweetness, including dessert wines noted for their aging ability, as well as sparkling made according to the méthode champenoise and fortified wines.
Chenin blanc can accommodate some skin contact and maceration which will allow extraction of phenolic compoundsthat could add to the complexity of the wine. Two of the aromas that skin contact can bring out is the characteristic greengage andangelica notes of Chenin. The grape's characteristic acidity can be softened by malolactic fermentation which will give the wine a creamier or "fattier" texture as would a period spent aging on the lees. The use of wood or oak aging is up to each individual producer. Old World producers tend to shy away from the use of new oak barrels which can impart flavors of vanilla, spice and toastiness-though these notes maybe desirable for a New World producer.
James Molesworth from Wine Spectator talks about South African Chenin.
