Offering Rare Depth and Range of Character, Only Seven Barrels Produced Due to Drought
St. Helena, CA, November 16, 2022 – Celebrated winery Lang & Reed Napa Valley has just added the 2021 Chenin Blanc Mendocino (SRP $32.00) to their line-up of elegant wines. When they began their exploration of Chenin Blanc a decade ago, they never imagined that they’d be on the wave of renaissance for this noble variety. Almost lost in the cellar of underappreciated wines in California, the demand for and the number of wineries producing Chenin Blanc has exploded over the past five years. This 2021 Chenin Blanc is Lang & Reed’s eighth vintage from a single vineyard located in Mendocino County in Northern California.
This wine’s vinification is a collaborative effort between Winemaker John Skupny and his son, Reed. Facing the second year of severe drought, the 2021 crop resulted in only 7 barrels of wine. What the small production lacks in quantity, however, it makes up for in quality. A hallmark of the Lang & Reed Chenin from Mendocino is its immediacy of drinkability, yet with a sense that there is more pleasure to be had with a little bottle age. As the Skupny’s are dedicated to sourcing the best possible grapes from the very best sites, the wine offers a sense of depth and a range of character rarely found in California Chenin Blancs.
A fresh and brisk mix of peach, pear skin and ocean breeze take the lead in the aromatics of the 2021 vintage. Senses are fully engaged with after scents of linden blossom and faint minerality. On the palate, similar flavors are amplified, unveiling a wine more complex than first anticipated. With just enough acidity, these lightly honeyed flavors remain fresh and lively through the finish. Exuding classic Chenin Blanc charm, this wine has the makeup to age for a handful of years with good cellaring.
Inspired by the Loire Valley in France, where Chenin Blanc gained its fame, the source for this bottling comes from a region in Mendocino known as the Talmage Bench. The vineyard, located on the east side of the Russian River, was planted in 1980 on a gentle, north-facing slope that allows for great drainage and even ripening without too much heat accumulation. This forty-two year old, head pruned vineyard, was affected by the second year of drought, resulting in a much smaller crop of intense and perfectly ripened fruit.
About Lang & Reed Napa Valley
Located at 1244 Spring St in St Helena, CA, Lang & Reed is one of the few wineries in Napa Valley to specialize in 100% Cabernet Franc and explore the distinct charms of Chenin Blanc. They have long been inspired by and passionate about giving these varieties an opportunity to shine – true to type, pure in flavor. The wine-producing Skupny family has been creating expressive wines that are enjoyable to drink since 1996. Winemaking is a form of storytelling for the Skupny family, and Lang & Reed wines tell a tale of a multi-generational family business and their wonderful wine-filled life together.
Spring House, an historic Victorian that is now home to Lang & Reed’s tasting salon, is right off the hub of St Helena’s Main Street, where Tracey, John, Reed and Megan Skupny offer intimate, appointment-only tastings that allow visitors to get to know the family behind the brand, while they impart their affection for Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc. To learn more about Lang & Reed Napa Valley, 2021 Chenin Blanc Mendocino and other upcoming wine releases, visit their website (https://langandreed.com/) and follow them on Instagram (@langandreed) and Facebook (@langandreed)).
