Aromas of honeycomb, golden delicious apple, lively notes of lemon and quince, a hint of orange blossom and wet stone. On palate, clean and vibrant with a soft impression, notes of beeswax, melon rind, and linen and exhibiting a long mineral finish.
Chenin Blanc has been a personal favorite for many years and seemed the perfect counterpart to the Vintone Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon. Being a fan of cooler climate style Chenin I searched for a vineyard site in Mendocino County and was fortunate to find the Sterling Ranch Vineyard site. The site is located in an eastern section of the Ukiah Valley known as the Talmage bench.
Timothy and his father Sterling planted the Chenin Blanc in the Sterling ranch in 1980. The Norgard family are third generation Mendocino farmers. Timothy Norgardās grandfather came to Mendocino County in 1890, homesteading in the Covelo area. This block of Chenin blanc is on well-drained and gently sloping Pinole soils at an elevation of 690 feet. Being long time stewards of the land this vineyard is farmed sustainably and Certified Fish Friendly Farming.
This vineyard was harvested in the early morning, the whole clusters were gently pressed. The settled juice was racked to neutral barrels and puncheons for native primary fermentation with no secondary fermentation. The wine was aged in neutral puncheons for 11 months with lees stirring to develop mid palate texture.
Winery: Vintone Wines
Winemaker: Sean Foster
Location: Mendocino, CA
Winemaker Sean Foster has been crafting wines of exceptional quality for 25 years, wines which he is very proud of. Sean has grown extremely fond of the individuality of a vineyard site in each and every vintage. This has led to the development of his own personal winemaking style, where these qualities are the focus of his wines and shared as Vintone.
Two of the things Sean loves are wine and music and there is a crossover in what he loves about them. When it comes to music Sean is an analog man, he loves the purity of the sound that analog delivers, the unique tone in music expressed by a musician and their instrument. He finds these moments can be delivered in the glass as well, where the wine draws you in and shares its story with you.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
@Jamileigh17
Thanks for the question!
pH = 3.2
RS = <1 g/L (bone dry)
TA = 6.5 g/L
Indigineous fermentation in neutral barrels. No ML fermentation. Some lees stirring to add some texture.
Please let me know if I can answer any other question.
Sean
@Vintone I noticed you tagged farmstrong on your Instagramā¦ We had an offer from them in the past on here which is one of my favorite purchases. Are you involved with that winery or is that just a common saying in the wine making world?
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Vintone Chenin Blanc - $45 = 23.07%
Labrat reporting for duty!
I was stoked upon opening this box, as I am definitely leaning towards white wine these days. I did head straight over to the wineryās website, as I know Chenin has a broad spectrum regarding oak and sweetness. I didnāt get any information, but did deduce (dunno if correctly) that this is a newish winery, and one of two types of wine they produce! I was honestly hoping for a bit off dry, and no oak.
So - on PnP the nose is very bright and citrusy! I didnāt pick up any oak influence, I would say green apple and lemon. I didnāt notice the honey they mention, but honestly honey to me also means floral, which I associate with riesling or gewurtzraminer, and I did not really get that here. Also didnāt pick up any alcohol or anything that I disliked.
Tasting - This is dry! Get those same apple and citrus aspects on the palate, with some great acidity that made the sides of my tongue tingle. This has a nice medium body that really rounds out the acidity. The finish is long, and I wanted to find words for you, and ended up with mint but that was a reach. I see the winery said āmineralityā, which I like. It is a long, beautiful finish but it is smooth and mild. I was thinking grapefruit zest or mint, but minerality sounds good too. This wine is very well balanced.
So overall I very much enjoyed this one. I didnāt really pick up any oak - This is a dry, medium bodied, citrusy wine with enough complexity that you just keep on sipping. I mean, I finished the whole bottle by myself over the course of like 4 hours, so no second day notes for you. I was thinking if the case price was under 15 per bottle this would be a fantastic qpr in my book. Let me know if you have other questions or want comparisons - Iāve bought quite a few of the white wines offered on here.
@losthighwayz
Sorry you donāt like the nameā¦ I grew up playing music, and tone for me is a reference to the qualitative character that an artist brings to their craftā¦ like the tone of a musician and their instrument, or a writerās tone in a bookā¦
For us this is a must buy. Sean has been a winemaker at Merryvale Vineyards, Peju Province, and Starmont, all top notch wineries. He knows how to bring out the best in the grapes. Plus he and my husband are friends through to UC Davis together and Sean really knows the industry and how to make really good wine. Gotta support the home team.
Opened the wine last night, timely given we are having some very warm days. Iām typically a red drinker, but I do enjoy an occasional dry white. On first opening, I didnāt get much here, but as the wine warmed up, the complexity definitely began tom shine through, so i think I just initially over chilled it. It would be interesting to hear from the winemaker if they have any insights on optimal temperature to serve this one at.
Once it warmed a little it came across very well. Definitely green apple. Did not get a lot of oak or alcohol. Most impressive to me on this one was the long finish. I also canāt exactly describe it, but itās there, itās long and itās good.
I re-corked the bottle, tossed some carrots and squash on the grill, along with some corn on the cob, and some āblackenedā chicken (not spicy, just got distracted while grilling and charred the meat). I wouldnāt say the wine really shone with the pairing, but it definitely held itās own.
If you appreciate a nice, clean, citrusy, not sweet, white that sips well on itās own or with food on a hot day, i think youād be hard pressed to find anything to dislike here, especially at this price point.
Iām full up on whites at the moment, or Iād probably be in for at least a few.
Whatās the age-ability on this wine? My wines tend to spend a significant amount in cellar and while it usually works for reds, itās a tougher thing for whites.
@ratnikov@rjquillin
I believe this vintage will continue to develop complexity in bottle for the next five years. The acidity is all natural, and moderately high. In evaluating the wineās development over the past years, it is really just starting to hit itās strideā¦ I intentionally took a restrained approach in the winemakingā¦
@CorTot@davirom@losthighwayz@rjquillin@WineDavid49
An allocation tool/module would come in handy right here! It would be nice if the buyers could choose whether to control the allocation themselves or allow others to claim on first come, first serve basis and also possibly set limits on bottles per person as well. Definitely should be customizable. I think I will go add that idea to the site tools thread
2016 Vintone Chenin Blanc
Tasting Notes
Aromas of honeycomb, golden delicious apple, lively notes of lemon and quince, a hint of orange blossom and wet stone. On palate, clean and vibrant with a soft impression, notes of beeswax, melon rind, and linen and exhibiting a long mineral finish.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
2016 Vintone Chenin Blanc, Sterling Ranch, Mendocino
Chenin Blanc has been a personal favorite for many years and seemed the perfect counterpart to the Vintone Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon. Being a fan of cooler climate style Chenin I searched for a vineyard site in Mendocino County and was fortunate to find the Sterling Ranch Vineyard site. The site is located in an eastern section of the Ukiah Valley known as the Talmage bench.
Timothy and his father Sterling planted the Chenin Blanc in the Sterling ranch in 1980. The Norgard family are third generation Mendocino farmers. Timothy Norgardās grandfather came to Mendocino County in 1890, homesteading in the Covelo area. This block of Chenin blanc is on well-drained and gently sloping Pinole soils at an elevation of 690 feet. Being long time stewards of the land this vineyard is farmed sustainably and Certified Fish Friendly Farming.
This vineyard was harvested in the early morning, the whole clusters were gently pressed. The settled juice was racked to neutral barrels and puncheons for native primary fermentation with no secondary fermentation. The wine was aged in neutral puncheons for 11 months with lees stirring to develop mid palate texture.
Specifications
Included In The Box
Price Comparison
$360/case (Not for sale on winery website)
About The Winery
Winery: Vintone Wines
Winemaker: Sean Foster
Location: Mendocino, CA
Winemaker Sean Foster has been crafting wines of exceptional quality for 25 years, wines which he is very proud of. Sean has grown extremely fond of the individuality of a vineyard site in each and every vintage. This has led to the development of his own personal winemaking style, where these qualities are the focus of his wines and shared as Vintone.
Two of the things Sean loves are wine and music and there is a crossover in what he loves about them. When it comes to music Sean is an analog man, he loves the purity of the sound that analog delivers, the unique tone in music expressed by a musician and their instrument. He finds these moments can be delivered in the glass as well, where the wine draws you in and shares its story with you.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, August 29th - Tuesday, September 3rd
Vintone Chenin Blanc
4 bottles for $64.99 $16.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $149.99 $12.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Vintone Chenin Blanc
Requesting pH, RS, TA and any other technical data, please?
(I really like chenin blanc as a whole, but Iām picky with white wines)
@Jamileigh17
Thanks for the question!
pH = 3.2
RS = <1 g/L (bone dry)
TA = 6.5 g/L
Indigineous fermentation in neutral barrels. No ML fermentation. Some lees stirring to add some texture.
Please let me know if I can answer any other question.
Sean
@Vintone Thank you!
@Vintone I noticed you tagged farmstrong on your Instagramā¦ We had an offer from them in the past on here which is one of my favorite purchases. Are you involved with that winery or is that just a common saying in the wine making world?
$29.33/btl at https://www.solanocellars.com
makes the WD price here look pretty fine.
@rjquillin agreed!
This looks like a nice offer. We donāt get enough white variety here.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Vintone Chenin Blanc - $45 = 23.07%
Labrat reporting for duty!
I was stoked upon opening this box, as I am definitely leaning towards white wine these days. I did head straight over to the wineryās website, as I know Chenin has a broad spectrum regarding oak and sweetness. I didnāt get any information, but did deduce (dunno if correctly) that this is a newish winery, and one of two types of wine they produce! I was honestly hoping for a bit off dry, and no oak.
So - on PnP the nose is very bright and citrusy! I didnāt pick up any oak influence, I would say green apple and lemon. I didnāt notice the honey they mention, but honestly honey to me also means floral, which I associate with riesling or gewurtzraminer, and I did not really get that here. Also didnāt pick up any alcohol or anything that I disliked.
Tasting - This is dry! Get those same apple and citrus aspects on the palate, with some great acidity that made the sides of my tongue tingle. This has a nice medium body that really rounds out the acidity. The finish is long, and I wanted to find words for you, and ended up with mint but that was a reach. I see the winery said āmineralityā, which I like. It is a long, beautiful finish but it is smooth and mild. I was thinking grapefruit zest or mint, but minerality sounds good too. This wine is very well balanced.
So overall I very much enjoyed this one. I didnāt really pick up any oak - This is a dry, medium bodied, citrusy wine with enough complexity that you just keep on sipping. I mean, I finished the whole bottle by myself over the course of like 4 hours, so no second day notes for you. I was thinking if the case price was under 15 per bottle this would be a fantastic qpr in my book. Let me know if you have other questions or want comparisons - Iāve bought quite a few of the white wines offered on here.
Thanks for letting me taste again!
@CruelMelody Thanks for a good report!
Inaugural release from Vintone, this and a 2015 cabernet.
Terrible name. But sounds like quality wine.
@losthighwayz
Sorry you donāt like the nameā¦ I grew up playing music, and tone for me is a reference to the qualitative character that an artist brings to their craftā¦ like the tone of a musician and their instrument, or a writerās tone in a bookā¦
@losthighwayz @Vintone I like the name
Keep doing your thingā¦
@losthighwayz @Vintone I imagined a stereotypical Jersey Soprano voice seeing his friend walk in and exclaim āEh! Itsa vin-tone-eh.ā
@KNmeh7 @losthighwayz
I read this outloud to my family last night, with my best Soprano voice, and we all had a great laughā¦ Thank you!
For us this is a must buy. Sean has been a winemaker at Merryvale Vineyards, Peju Province, and Starmont, all top notch wineries. He knows how to bring out the best in the grapes. Plus he and my husband are friends through to UC Davis together and Sean really knows the industry and how to make really good wine. Gotta support the home team.
@petwhisperer
Thank you!!
Sean
@Vintone Greetings from Mary & John Argo! John really loved his visits with you.
@petwhisperer
Thanks Mary! Great to hear from you and John. Please say hi to John for me, it would be great to catch up.
Lucky enough to rat this one!
Opened the wine last night, timely given we are having some very warm days. Iām typically a red drinker, but I do enjoy an occasional dry white. On first opening, I didnāt get much here, but as the wine warmed up, the complexity definitely began tom shine through, so i think I just initially over chilled it. It would be interesting to hear from the winemaker if they have any insights on optimal temperature to serve this one at.
Once it warmed a little it came across very well. Definitely green apple. Did not get a lot of oak or alcohol. Most impressive to me on this one was the long finish. I also canāt exactly describe it, but itās there, itās long and itās good.
I re-corked the bottle, tossed some carrots and squash on the grill, along with some corn on the cob, and some āblackenedā chicken (not spicy, just got distracted while grilling and charred the meat). I wouldnāt say the wine really shone with the pairing, but it definitely held itās own.
If you appreciate a nice, clean, citrusy, not sweet, white that sips well on itās own or with food on a hot day, i think youād be hard pressed to find anything to dislike here, especially at this price point.
Iām full up on whites at the moment, or Iād probably be in for at least a few.
@cbrehman
Sounds like a really nice bottle!
Whatās the age-ability on this wine? My wines tend to spend a significant amount in cellar and while it usually works for reds, itās a tougher thing for whites.
@ratnikov @vintone
Tickle tickleā¦
@ratnikov @rjquillin
I believe this vintage will continue to develop complexity in bottle for the next five years. The acidity is all natural, and moderately high. In evaluating the wineās development over the past years, it is really just starting to hit itās strideā¦ I intentionally took a restrained approach in the winemakingā¦
@rjquillin @Vintone
Great, just the answer I was looking for! In for 4 bottles.
@davirom interested in 4 bottles?
@losthighwayz Iād be good for a couple.
perhaps @cortot ?
@losthighwayz Sure, count me in
@davirom @losthighwayz I can take some as well.
@CorTot @davirom @rjquillin how about 4-4-2-2?
@CorTot @davirom @losthighwayz
we need to associate the quantity with the user
for me, anything between 2~4 inclusive works.
@CorTot @davirom @losthighwayz @rjquillin @WineDavid49
An allocation tool/module would come in handy right here! It would be nice if the buyers could choose whether to control the allocation themselves or allow others to claim on first come, first serve basis and also possibly set limits on bottles per person as well. Definitely should be customizable. I think I will go add that idea to the site tools thread
@CorTot @losthighwayz @rjquillin If it makes allocation easier, I will take any number between 2 and 4.
@CorTot @davirom @losthighwayz
0:20 remain
Who is going to do the deed?
If I do, not a problem, it will ship to Cortot.
@CorTot @davirom @rjquillin Ron let me know if you ordered. If not, I will. We have 5 minutes. Donāt want to double order
@CorTot @davirom @losthighwayz
predictable-manifold-mouse
3 rjquillin
3 davirom
2 cortot
4 losthiwayz
@CorTot @davirom @rjquillin lost track of time. Thanks. Iāll get next split.
@davirom @losthighwayz @rjquillin Iām good with 2.
@CorTot @davirom @rjquillin Iāll take 3
@CorTot @davirom @rjquillin ok, 4. So 4-3-3-2
I can take some as well.
Taking a flyer on this oneā¦ a fascinating varietal. Excited to see it on here. Last one I had was eerily similar to a GrĆ¼ner Veltliner.
/giphy nerdy-playful-quiver
