Sauvignon Blanc is planted up and down the country of Chile, and in this recent tasting event I had the chance to experience eight wines from five major winemaking areas. Prices for Chilean Sauvignon Blanc are affordable across the board — $11 to $23 — and these wines’ characters are varied and quite different from one region to the next.

While none of these wines bowled me over, my surprise favorite was the #6 bottle, from Cono Sur, a mere $13 for this San Antonio Valley wine, laden with tropical fruit flavor. Also worthwhile was the wine from Santa Rita, one of the largest producers of wine in all of Chile. This bottle, from the Leyda Valley, merits Santa Rita’s “Medalla Real” distinction, also bears strong tropical notes, but a slightly funky finish makes it a close second place to the Cono Sur.

Notes follow.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc 2009 – Complete Tasting Report

2009 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva / B / $11 / racy, a bit skunky on the finish

2009 Ventisquero Sauvignon Blanc Queulat / B / $17 / simple, with big fruit and perfume

2009 Undurraga Sauvignon Blanc T.H. / B / $16 / plain, big fruit but quite acidic

2009 Valdivieso Sauvignon Blanc Single Vineyard Wild Fermented / C- / $22 / muscat-like, really stinky

2009 Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc Medalla Real / B / $20 / tropical fruit character, a little odd though

2009 Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc Organic / B+ / $13 / also tropical but better balanced, best of the lot

2009 Haras de Pirque Sauvignon Blanc Haras Estate / B / $12 / thinner, harmless

2009 Casa Silva Sauvignon Blanc Cool Coast / C / $23 / fizzy and clearly off target

About Post Author