Ask any sommelier, restauranteur, or winemaker to list their favorite white wine grapes, and Chenin Blanc will surely be place towards the top of that list. It's the grape in some of Hi-Time's most beloved white wines, whether they are the Vouvrays from France's Loire Valley, the glorious Chenins from South Africa's Stellenbosch region, or in this case, the old vine plantings from California's Central Valley. And today, we have the second-highest Jeb Dunnuck rated California Chenin Blanc, and it's only $24.95!
California's oldest Chenin Blanc vines were planted over 100 years ago, and a portion of that original vineyard is still producing grapes. In the years following the end of prohibition, Chenin Blanc was used to make jug wines. However, starting in the 1970s and 1980s, some producers began giving this grape the respect it deserved; some of these producers were the same ones that are revered today, like Mondavi, Inglenook, and Chappellet. Chenin Blanc is a grape that flourishes in both cool climates and warm, making it one of the truly versatile winemaking grapes around the world. It expresses terroir better than Chardonnay, and retains refreshing acidity like Sauvignon Blanc.
During the last decade, there has been a new wave of California winemakers releasing high-quality Chenin Blancs from some of these vineyards with older plantings. Rococo began in 2016 when Natalie Brown unexpectedly stumbled upon four rows of old vine Chenin Blanc vines sandwiched in the middle of a Chardonnay and a Merlot block. The Chenin stood out because the plants stand a few feet taller and the trunks are double the diameter of the neighboring blocks. It turns out these vines were the last remaining of an original fifty acres planted in 1974!
As the name implies, Rococo's "Own Rooted" comes from old Chenin Blanc vines that were grown on their own roots. This matters as these plants can withstand drought more than their grafted counterparts, and older vines create less fruit, and their resulting grapes often have more complexity. Natalie has crafted this wine using fruit from the three Central Coast sites she works with, and the wine is a complete knockout!
Jeb Dunnuck is one of the more respected critics in the wine world. We are elated to say that this wine from Natalie's Rococo label earned 94 points, and is the 2nd highest rated California Chenin Blanc he's rated on his eponymous publication! Plus, if you look at the short list of other California Chenin Blancs that rated 94, you'll see that several of them sell for $45-$55, which makes Rococo an undeniable value... even in the world of Vouvray!
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "Rococo is a Chenin Blanc-focused project from winemaker Natalie Brown. Sourced from vineyards across the Central Coast, the range spans from the fresher, Loire-like Chenin Blanc Vista Verde to a richer, more concentrated old vine Reserve cuvée. These are beautiful, balanced, and impressive expressions of Chenin Blanc that are a pleasure to drink."
"Very light gold-hued, the 2024 Chenin Blanc Own Rooted reveals subtle citrus, fresh hay, and minty herb nuances. It's medium-bodied and remarkably pure, with integrated acidity and a fresh, focused mouthfeel. Made from 100% Chenin Blanc, this brilliant effort will be about as versatile as they come. It is best enjoyed over the coming 4-5 years. Drink 2025-2030."
California's oldest Chenin Blanc vines were planted over 100 years ago, and a portion of that original vineyard is still producing grapes. In the years following the end of prohibition, Chenin Blanc was used to make jug wines. However, starting in the 1970s and 1980s, some producers began giving this grape the respect it deserved; some of these producers were the same ones that are revered today, like Mondavi, Inglenook, and Chappellet. Chenin Blanc is a grape that flourishes in both cool climates and warm, making it one of the truly versatile winemaking grapes around the world. It expresses terroir better than Chardonnay, and retains refreshing acidity like Sauvignon Blanc.
During the last decade, there has been a new wave of California winemakers releasing high-quality Chenin Blancs from some of these vineyards with older plantings. Rococo began in 2016 when Natalie Brown unexpectedly stumbled upon four rows of old vine Chenin Blanc vines sandwiched in the middle of a Chardonnay and a Merlot block. The Chenin stood out because the plants stand a few feet taller and the trunks are double the diameter of the neighboring blocks. It turns out these vines were the last remaining of an original fifty acres planted in 1974!
As the name implies, Rococo's "Own Rooted" comes from old Chenin Blanc vines that were grown on their own roots. This matters as these plants can withstand drought more than their grafted counterparts, and older vines create less fruit, and their resulting grapes often have more complexity. Natalie has crafted this wine using fruit from the three Central Coast sites she works with, and the wine is a complete knockout!
Jeb Dunnuck is one of the more respected critics in the wine world. We are elated to say that this wine from Natalie's Rococo label earned 94 points, and is the 2nd highest rated California Chenin Blanc he's rated on his eponymous publication! Plus, if you look at the short list of other California Chenin Blancs that rated 94, you'll see that several of them sell for $45-$55, which makes Rococo an undeniable value... even in the world of Vouvray!
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "Rococo is a Chenin Blanc-focused project from winemaker Natalie Brown. Sourced from vineyards across the Central Coast, the range spans from the fresher, Loire-like Chenin Blanc Vista Verde to a richer, more concentrated old vine Reserve cuvée. These are beautiful, balanced, and impressive expressions of Chenin Blanc that are a pleasure to drink."
"Very light gold-hued, the 2024 Chenin Blanc Own Rooted reveals subtle citrus, fresh hay, and minty herb nuances. It's medium-bodied and remarkably pure, with integrated acidity and a fresh, focused mouthfeel. Made from 100% Chenin Blanc, this brilliant effort will be about as versatile as they come. It is best enjoyed over the coming 4-5 years. Drink 2025-2030."
