I had a couple sparkling Chenin’s in South Africa pretty all of them were enjoyable but not memorable. I’d love to find one that changes my mind.
I did notice, FWIW, that they tend to use the lower grade or younger grapes for the Petillant. Would be nice to see a Petillant made with Clos de Bourg or Clos Naudin grapes…
I think Chenin makes a super sparkling wine. When I started drinking many years ago Vouvray (Loire, made from Chenin, traditional method) was as famous as Champagne.
The Loire is a good place to start with Vouvray and the wine I’m currently drinking a lot of, Bouvet-Ladubay Chenin Blanc Brut from Saumur.
Do you age it?
Yes, I age all traditional method fizz.
Is it similar to Champagne methods of production and blending (for NV)? Is vintage only made in the best years?
If you’re asking whether is is bottle fermented like Champagne, then yes. Look for ‘traditional method’ and ‘Cremant’, which are reserved for wines that used to be called methode champenois.
NV wines blend in wines from previous vintages for that same reason Champagne does - to maintain a house style. If a vintage wine is released the makers think it is a superior vintage
Although South Africa grows more Chenin than France, the leading sparkling wine makers are now using the three Champagne grapes. It’s a long time since I’ve found a Cape Chenin fizz, but look for Methode Cap Classique (MCC) as it is the South African term to mean traditional method.
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I agree with some of what’s been said:
Pinon for value
What I’ve had has been good at best, nothing great.
I think Huet’s Reserve is the best I’ve had. It still doesn’t compare to great Champagne, but it’s a complex and distinctive wine that doesn’t break the bank.
Seeing good but not great comments I was wondering what the price you’d expect to shell out for truly outstanding sparkling chenin blancs. Many of the cremants in general I’ve had are < $30.
Most have been said here. So going a little off-thread. If you are looking for high acidity sparklings at a good price there is also made a few good Jura Cremants that fits that bill.
Got a deal on these, big hit at thanksgiving, I think they were $17.00 with TT&L a bargain-only info on back reads “lot 2017” I got an offer for Jacky Blot triple aught and I wish now I’d grabbed a couple to try.
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Chidaine makes a pretty good one and as mentioned above, I still have 4 2009 Huet reserve in the cellar and they and really very good and interesting. Scratches the same Itch old Lauer sekt does. Not champagne but interesting, geeky and intellectual in its own right.
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I haven’t seen Breton and Champalou mentioned yet. That said they both fall into the “Good not great” bucket as well.
So, I have to eat my words here re: Sparkling Chenin being “good not great.”
2010 Mark Angeli Méthode Ancestrale Brut Non Dosé was an absolutely remarkable wine.
Disgorged in 2020 (!!!)
I have never had a sparkling chenin of either method (or any pet-nat of any variety…) that was remotely close to this. Golden brown, full bodied, a bit oxidative, complexity for days.
It’s not exactly apples to apples, but if I had to choose, I’d take this over a whole bunch of $100-$300 champagne.
I’m unfortunately not sure what it cost. Was at Chambers in NYC along with 8 or 9 other bottles of chenin + a group dinner for 9 people. And I’m not sure it’s findable at all unless you’re Pascaline Lepeltier.
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I can’t figure out when this NV Champalou Brut [Vouvray] was disgorged, but it’s a solid citizen sparkler. I find that it feels a touch off dry / demi sec, even if it may not be analytically that way. The bubbles are not all that effervescent, and the color might be more golden than expected, although the picture doesn’t illustrate that well. As Jason would say, ‘Good but not Great’, but to be fair the price reflects that stature. I do appreciate KLWM’s efforts in getting this estate distribution broadly; I’ve been enjoying their basic still wine for decades.
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I have had exactly one that excites me: Domaine de Roches Nueves “Bulles de Roche.”
It is a racy and bone dry no dosage sparkler, but it has fully ripe fruit and a ton of Chenin character. I used to get it for about $20 a bottle, though it looks like it’s trading for about $35 now. I prefer this to any currently available Champagne at the same price, though it bears no resemblance to Champagne whatsoever.
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