The Auswine Forum

Chenin Blanc is probrably the most underated and under appreciated varietal in Australia. Nobody takes it seriously. Produced mostly as an inexpensive, bland and light summer quaffer.
For twenty years, winemaker, Will Nairn of PEEL Estate has persisted with this variety making it the benchmark from Australia which is comparable to the remarkable whites from the Loire Valley.
For my money, this is the best "white" money can buy. This wine was matured in 100% new Nevers oak and released with 3 years of bottle aging.

PEEL Estate Chenin Blanc 2000
Intense floral and limey bouquet. The palate is rich and viscose packed with melon, pear & honeysuckle fruits followed by vanilla, flint & smoky character impart from the barrels. Crisp finish, with lingering aftertaste of beewax and honeyed characters. Fans of big Reds will love this wine because its at the heroic end of the spectrum. Like Will has always said, "This is a white wine for red wine drinkers"

oops, it's me.

This wine has earn Peel Est. the bragging right as the best of varietal in Australia. The same thing cannot be mentioned with his Shiraz even though Davo might disagreed with me

Hot and steamy in KL today? Needed a white?

Now let's see if I can warm you up a little more.

No, I have never said that Peel makes the best varietal shiraz in Australia. What I have said, you lover of mis-quoting, is that Peel Shiraz has always rated well against the best shiraz from Australia in blind tastings. In some vintages in blind tastings I have attended, it has rated well above wines form the same vintage that are well above it in both price and prestige, such as Grange and HOG.

...the fairy story that will soon become true. Charlie is marrying the ugly sister.
MM.

will nairn does make a good chenin blanc, but im scratching around for other worthy examples.

it is a versatile and user friendly grape though and when compared to viognier, i cant see why one gets a guernsey over the other, other than marketing and the recent trending to blending with shiraz, as well as the efforts of Yalumba in developing its style to aus users

NN