Paul Gregutt has a recent Substack on Washington state Chenins so I bought up a few of the latest vintages this weekend to revisit them. Starting with Kiona “Old Vines”. Pale yellow white, excellent clarity. Some melon and orchard fruit in the nose. Dryish with some spritz-like character in the middle, slightly viscous body, some skin astringency on the finish. An array of flavors - melon lemon apple pear stone fruit, good enough acid for the dryish sugar level. Easy sipping, great complexity and value for the money. The spritz is actually a tactile sensation on the tongue coming from some combination of the wine’s acidity and grape skin tannin astringency.
Paul Gregutt has a recent Substack on Washington state Chenins so I bought up a few of the latest vintages this weekend to revisit them. Starting with Kiona “Old Vines”. Pale yellow white, excellent clarity. Some melon and orchard fruit in the nose. Dryish with some spritz-like character in the middle, slightly viscous body, some skin astringency on the finish. An array of flavors - melon lemon apple pear stone fruit, good enough acid for the dryish sugar level. Easy sipping, great complexity and value for the money. The spritz is actually a tactile sensation on the tongue coming from some combination of the wine’s acidity and grape skin tannin astringency.
Sep 21st, 2025Revisiting the vintage. A cheapie but great value
Revisiting the vintage. A cheapie but great value
Aug 23rd, 2024Old vines. Pale yellow, excellent clarity. Some sulfured dried apricot on the nose. Floral, apple, underripe nectarine, pear and lemon flavors, dryish. Mild but slightly prickly skin astringency on the finish. Great fruit, nothing fancy, but a solid take on the variety
Old vines. Pale yellow, excellent clarity. Some sulfured dried apricot on the nose. Floral, apple, underripe nectarine, pear and lemon flavors, dryish. Mild but slightly prickly skin astringency on the finish. Great fruit, nothing fancy, but a solid take on the variety
Oct 14th, 2023Pale yellow, excellent clarity. Pear and orchard fruit notes in nose, lemon and peach in the mouth. Fruity, soft, marvelous stuff. Builds in crispness over time. Great value for a common supermarket wine. A neglected varietal, shamefully.
Pale yellow, excellent clarity. Pear and orchard fruit notes in nose, lemon and peach in the mouth. Fruity, soft, marvelous stuff. Builds in crispness over time. Great value for a common supermarket wine. A neglected varietal, shamefully.
May 22nd, 2022Pale yellow white, excellent clarity. Floral, honey and citrus notes in nose. Semi dry, lemon and stone fruit flavors. Minimal tannins, rounded mouthfeel but slightly tart finish. Dried apricot aftertaste with slight effervescence in the mouth. Good value, great fruit, simply made.
Pale yellow white, excellent clarity. Floral, honey and citrus notes in nose. Semi dry, lemon and stone fruit flavors. Minimal tannins, rounded mouthfeel but slightly tart finish. Dried apricot aftertaste with slight effervescence in the mouth. Good value, great fruit, simply made.
Sep 9th, 2019
This crisp Chenin is delightful, light bodied with orange and nectarine up front, with a restrained lemon-lime finish. It complemented Mexican food superbly.
This crisp Chenin is delightful, light bodied with orange and nectarine up front, with a restrained lemon-lime finish. It complemented Mexican food superbly.
Jul 18th, 2016
Delightful Chenin! Medium dry.
Delightful Chenin! Medium dry.
Mar 29th, 2014
Excellent varietal palate, just the right amount of sharp elbow to accent the fruit; tiny bits of spritz bliss of quickly; very slightly sweet aspect is a friendly note. Tasty and excellent food wine.
Excellent varietal palate, just the right amount of sharp elbow to accent the fruit; tiny bits of spritz bliss of quickly; very slightly sweet aspect is a friendly note. Tasty and excellent food wine.
Jul 16th, 2022
This was ok. It's more on the sweet side than I prefer. Has a syrupy mouthfeel.
This was ok. It's more on the sweet side than I prefer. Has a syrupy mouthfeel.
May 22nd, 2020
Really a great wine that a friend brought all the way from Washington. Dry according to the label, but I thought it had a mild sweetness to it.
Really a great wine that a friend brought all the way from Washington. Dry according to the label, but I thought it had a mild sweetness to it.
Nov 14th, 2019
Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
