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