Ballentine Vineyards Chenin Blanc Napa Valley Pocai Vineyard 2009
Editorial Review by Gregory Dal Piaz:
Quince, green tea and smoky lanolin greet the nose along with some wet wool notes. This is surprisingly light in the mouth, with superb, vibrant acidity supporting relatively simple lime, quince and a touch of pear fruit with smoky, light mineral oil aromatic notes in the mouth. The finish is a touch short but snappy, with a nice return of lime pith. 86 points
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Ballentine Vineyards:
Ballentine Vineyards focuses on red varietals; Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Each vineyard supports our belief that it is vital to grow only those varieties that are best suited to particular aspects of the land; soil, exposure and climate. The grapes used for our wines are all 100% estate grown on 100 acres, from three distinct vineyards in the Napa Valley. Van Ballentine personally manages each vineyard.
Editorial Reviews for Ballentine Vineyards Chenin Blanc Napa Valley Pocai Vineyard
Quince, green tea and smoky lanolin greet the nose along with some wet wool notes. This is surprisingly light in the mouth, with superb, vibrant acidity supporting relatively simple lime, quince and a touch of pear fruit with smoky, light mineral oil aromatic notes in the mouth. The finish is a touch short but snappy, with a nice return of lime pith. 86 points
Member Reviews for Ballentine Vineyards Chenin Blanc Napa Valley Pocai Vineyard
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Quite nice, lemony citrus with a nice minerality. I had this as an aperitif and then with a light soup -- goes best with a little food. Perhaps that's because of the 14.5% ABV.
This is a Gold Medal Wine Club-Gold Series selection from Novemeber '08. The Ballentine 2007 Old Vines Chenin Blanc was harvested from the Pocai Vineyard, which has been exclusively farmed by the Pocai and Ballentine families for over 100 years. The Chenin Blanc was planted in the 1970s, making it one of the oldest single vineyards of the grape still standing in Napa Valley. Ballentine’s single vineyard Chenin Blancs have consistently brought rave reviews and critical acclaim, and the 2007 vintage is no exception, with a notable 90 Point score from Wine & Spirits magazine. This Chenin Blanc has very complex and classic flavors of peaches, pears, citrus blossoms, honeysuckle, apple, lemon and lime. Crisp, clean, and fruit forward, the 2007 Chenin Blanc is refreshing with a full and silky texture. On the palate, the wine has zesty citrus characters with notes of peaches, melons, and floral blossoms that are accentuated by slight vanilla qualities in the finish. An extremely food friendly wine, try pairing the Ballentine 2007 Chenin Blanc with grilled or friend seafood, chicken with creamy sauces, and spicy Asian cuisine. 100% Chenin Blanc. Enjoy now until 2012. Visit http://www.goldmedalwine.com/newsletters/gold_series/newsletter_140.php to get more info about the winery or for recipe pairings.
Light yellow color with a tight nose. A little green apple aroma. Crisp and acidic with a minerality and a lemon/citrus burst on the palate.
External Reviews for Ballentine Vineyards Chenin Blanc Napa Valley Pocai Vineyard
The 2008 Chenin blanc was blessed by an immaculate growing season this year. The wine has very complex and classic Chenin blanc flavors of peaches, pears, citrus blossoms, honeysuckle, apple, lime and lemon. This Chenin is crisp, clean and fruit forward, and is very refreshing. The structure of the palate is full and silky with a crisp finish. The wine has a zesty citrus character on the palate with notes of peach, melon and floral blossoms. The wine has a silky texture that is accentuated by an extremely slight vanilla quality to the finish.
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