A Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

A Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

Can you get a decent Chilean Sauvignon Blanc at this price?...

Despite all the Chilean wines and all the Sauvignon Blancs that I have tasted over the years, both my memory and my web site’s search box tell me that I have never reviewed a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. Rather surprising. The 120 on the bottle stands for the 120 men hiding in Santa Rita’s extensive wine cellar alongside the national hero Bernardo O’Higgins after the historic 1814 Battle of Rancagua when Chile was reconquered by Spain. The winery now owns more than 3000 hectares (over 7500 acres) of vines and is partnered with the French winery Lafite-Rothschild. The companion wine is a Marlborough, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at twice the price.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc D. O. Valle Centrale 2012 13.5 % alcohol about $8.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials “Tasting Note Appearance; pale straw. Nose; gooseberry, peach, citrus, fresh cut grass. Palate; light and refreshing with balanced acidity. Serving Suggestion Salads, herb chicken, as a sipper.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was thin, excessively acidic, and fairly short. Matzo ball soup smoothed the acidity somewhat. The drink sweetened and I got citrus. I spiced up the soup with Yemeni green jalapeno sauce that rounded the liquid and the fruit continued. The initial meal focused on a barbecued chicken. The libation responded with metallic pea pods and good acidity. Zesty guacamole rendered our SB slightly woody. Fresh raspberries for dessert fairly muted Whitey; and I noted some unpleasant pea pods and pleasant oak.

This review of a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_chsb.php

A Marlborough, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012 13.5 % alcohol about $16.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials “Tasting Note: If you buy no other 2012 New Zealand sauvignon currently on the shelves, don't miss Dog Point. There's a consummately crafted dimension to this wine that propels it above the vast sea of sauvignon, a wine of genuine character and interest. A one-fifth portion of wild ferment and lees ageing instils a mineral mouth feel and complexing nuances of struck flint. Carefully regulated yields have produced an impeccably gauged fruit profile that tactically dodges the extremes of underripe herbaceousness and overripe passionfruit, falling neatly into the middle ground of grapefruit, lemon zest, guava and golden delicious apple. A focused acid line and outstanding, lingering, textural persistence make not only for immediate appeal but promise medium-term potential. Drink 2012-2019. Score - 95. (Tyson Stelzer, at his web site Undated).” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine offered good acidity but had that characteristic peapod taste that I sometimes get in New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. When the juice accompanied Matzo ball soup the pea pod taste increased as the acidity rounded. I spiced up the soup with Yemeni green jalapeno sauce but those pea pods continued to dominate. The initial meal focused on a barbecued chicken. Can you guess how the libation responded, I’ll give you a hint. It was excessive. But I did note round acidity. Zesty guacamole gave our SB good oak, good acidity, and bad you know what. Fresh raspberries for dessert fairly muted Whitey; but the wine was still present enough and offered good sweetness and acidity.

This review of a  Marlborough, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_articles/Elsewhere_wine_articles/marlborough_new_zealand_sauvignon_blanc.php