Bourillon-Dorleans 2009 Vouvray sec La Coulee d'Argent

Straw color.

Fruity peach smell, mineral, doesn't really very much resemble the scratch-and-sniff label. (I'm guessing that the same label-scent is available to any Vouvray producer who wants to pay for it.)

Off-dry-to-dry fruity taste, peach, lime, pear, long honeyed finish.

Excellent medium-bodied bottle. $28. Oh, just what I needed, a bottle I feel the need for more of!

Domaine Pichot 2008 Vouvray Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette

Pale yellow straw color, glints of green.

Smell of green apple and lime, elementary-school erasers freshly clapped.

Off-dry fruit flavor, ripe apple and pear, sweet lime pie, pumpkin-pie-spice.

Good light-bodied bottle for $19.99, a food-friendly little trifle that keeps pouring for a light dessert. Lime pie with whipped cream at the end.

Update: Another bottle proved a wonderful accompaniment for an off-season roast Turkey dinner, with suitable trimmings.

Remy Pannier 2006 Vouvray "Vallee des Jardins"

Extremely pale straw color, slightly petillant.

Melon, floral smell.

Off-dry taste of apple pie, pear, citrus hints. Petillance is quite noticeable.

A bit simple, but seems a good value for $14.99.

Vinum Africa 2006 Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc

Pale straw color.

Melon smell, peach, floral, a bit of citrus.

Dry fruity flavor, melon, peach, petillant, thick texture. Alcohol warmth and smoke at the finish.

An entirely reasonable bottle for $14.99. I'm pleased.

Dry Creek 2006 Clarksburg Dry Chenin Blanc

Pale straw color.

Smell of apple, melon, hint of pineapple.

Quite dry apple & melon flavors, petillance on the tongue that isn't expected from visual inspection. Tart sense of peach. Ripe, juicy fruit.

It opens with fruit that makes the mouth expect sweetness, but finishes dry. So unsweetly dry!

A fun bottle for $12.49, not remarkably different from the 2007.

Dry Creek 2007 Clarksburg Dry Chenin Blanc

Pale straw color.

Melon smell, citrus, trace of oak.

Bone-dry melon fruit, grapefruit, fruit flavors prominent.

A bargain for $12.49! While I greatly enjoy off-dry Chenin Blanc, I also find this absolutely dry style quite wonderful.

Mulderbosch 2007 Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc Steen op Hout

Very pale straw color, slightly greenish.

Mild melon smell, citrus rind, spice.

Barely off-dry melon flavor, grapefruit, lime, pineapple. Very slightly petillant. Although gently cooled in a Vacu Vin "Rapid Ice Wine Chiller" sleeve rather than the refrigerator, this gained considerable flavor as it warmed in the glass and lost a trace of bitterness in the finish.

An exciting, entirely acceptable bottle, for $14.99. I find South African Chenin Blanc equal or better than anywhere else that grows it. I shall have to more fully investigate how US growers do.

Kanu 2006 Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc has long been grown in South Africa, commonly called Steen.

Pale straw color, hint of a greenish tint.

Peach smell, rather faint.

Fruity tart but dry flavor, peaches and pears, melon and grapefruit.

Not a bad bottle for $13.49, classy and subtle, but I could complain about insufficient concentration. I'll continue looking for other Chenin Blancs and have a few lined up for that purpose in the next month or so.

I contend that the only reason Chardonnay is a respected major white while Chenin Blanc is largely ignored is that it's so much fun to say (and to drink!) Pouilly-Fuissé.