Under the leadership of winemaker Kareem Massoud and his father Charles, before for him, Paumanok Vineyards has made consistently stunning dry Chenin Blanc. The emphasis is on dry, because consumers often avoid Chenin Blanc because they can’t predict what’s in the bottle since the grapes can make a diverse range of wines from dry to gloriously sweet. Their 2018, like its predecessors, is dry, crisp and cutting with a hint of flintiness. Though it’s mouth-cleansing acidity makes it a refreshing choice in the waning days of summer, don’t forget about it for the Thanksgiving table.
Paumanok Vineyards, North Fork of Long Island (New York) Chenin Blanc 2018
By Michael Apstein