£14.99, Waitrose
I’ve chosen this full, dry, honeyed Loire Valley white in honour of Drink Chenin Day on Saturday. I could have picked any number of delicious South African Chenin Blancs – and am looking forward to tasting a fair few at The Wine Gang’s summer festival – but I’ve gone instead for a Chenin from its birthplace in the Anjou region. A classic region, but an atypical wine. Against the Anjou norm, Alexandre Cady ferments and ages his Cheninsolite in French oak barrels to add some buttery, smoky richness to the honeyed apricot, green fruit and mineral flavours and the racy acidity. One of the joys of Chenin is the way it partners food. The weight of this one could take on cream sauces, fish pie, asparagus with hollandaise or melted butter, vitello tonnato, roast chicken or pork. There are more food suggestions and recommended producers in my blog on Chenin Blanc.
Domaine Cady Cheninsolite 2015, Anjou Blanc, Loire, France
£14.99, selected Waitrose and waitrosecellar.com