Two new wines from Chile’s Veramonte, both summery whites, both very affordable.

2017 Veramonte Chardonnay Casablanca Valley – A surprisingly bright and well-rounded wine, this chardonnay features notes of lemon and peach, with a hint of apricot and some unusual, intriguing blood orange notes on the finish. It’s got a bounty of fresh fruit, with only a touch of vanilla to point to its chardonnayness. (Only 15% of the wine is barrel-aged, in neutral oak, for 8 months.) A bit of sugar on the back end ensures this wine will find a place on the summertime porches of the world. An outstanding value. A- / $11

2018 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley – This is Veramonte’s first certified organic wine — part of the brand’s push to make all its wines organic in vintages to come. It’s a prototypical if not entirely surprising expression of southern hemisphere sauvignon blanc. Tropical and bright, the wine is hefty with pineapple as well as melon notes, with hints of clean linen and some florals on the back end. The finish is a bit doughy at times, but at this price level, it’s tough to complain too loudly. B+ / $12

veramonte.cl

2017 Veramonte Chardonnay Casablanca Valley

$11

9

Rating

9.0/10