Bogle Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2019 Clarksburg, California, USA 75cl

Bogle Vineyards farm their land in Clarksburg, a cooler corner of California’s Sacramento Delta that has quietly earned a name for Chenin Blanc. The family’s long roots here give them a real feel for what the site does best, and Chenin is one of the region’s under-the-radar strengths.

Chenin Blanc thrives on that river-cooled ground, where night-time breezes lock in acidity. Bogle keep the winemaking simple and fresh, aiming to capture the grape’s bright, orchard-fruit character rather than dress it up with heavy oak or over-ripe flavours.

The 2019 vintage gave clean, healthy fruit, and this is a wine made to be enjoyed young while that freshness is at its peak. There is no oak here, just pure, unfussy fruit, so there is nothing to be gained from keeping it.

Expect white peach, pear and honeydew melon, a squeeze of lemon and a soft, gently off-dry lilt on the palate. At just 12.5% it is light on its feet, crisp and thoroughly refreshing, with just enough roundness to stop it feeling austere.

This is a wine to pour cold on a warm afternoon. It makes an easy aperitif and partners nicely with spicy Thai dishes, fresh salads, goats’ cheese, sushi or a plate of summer fruit. Its gentle sweetness and bright acidity make it a natural friend to anything with a little chilli heat. Light, fresh and gently fruity, it is an easy wine to like and an even easier one to finish, whether as a quiet aperitif or alongside a spicy midweek supper.