Wines of Chile Blogger Tasting

Event: It was an invitation for a virtual tasting. How could we resist. Using the medium we have grown to enjoy to have a tasting. Dennis, Mark Rhodes, Cindy Tuttle, Sherry Foster, Bob and Catherine Woodhurst and Dan all joined in the fun.

The tasting came on line at 7pm EDT. We received tasting package of 8 Sauvignon Blancs from Chile. We updated our post as we tasted the wines.  Master Sommelier Fred Dexheimer led us through 8 “zesty” Sauvignon Blancs. There is a panel of winemakers from the represented wineries online from Santiago, Chile. They are answering questions as they pop up.

More than 50 bloggers also kept up a lively discussion throughout the tasting. As in most wine tastings, the conversation got livelier as the wine flowed.

This was a fun experience. We were surprised that Chile has so many good whites. We generally think of Chile as a great red wine producer. Although we didn’t love all of them, this certainly opened our eyes to some wines we didn’t know existed. To keep our palates fresh we had a variety of cheeses, nuts and two chicken dishes, Chicken Yakitori (soy/ginger/garlic marinade) and chicken sauteed in cilantro and white wine. Our tasting notes are added to the tasting notes provided by the wineries.

Here is the Quick List of the wines presented (click on a wine to see more):

1. Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2009
2. Ventisquero Queulat Sauvignon Blanc 2009
3. Undurraga T.H. Sauvignon Blanc 2009
4. Singe Vineyard Wild Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2009
5. Santa Rita Medalla Real Sauvignon Blanc 2009
6. Cono Sur Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2009
7. Haras de Pirque Haras Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009
8. Casa Silva Cool Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Here are the detailed wine notes:

Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2009
Our Notes: Huge citrus nose. The nose toned down after a few minutes. The taste is mellow and smooth. Some of our group thought it tasted like a fresh-squeezed grapefruit, except sweeter. Not very tart. A good example of Sauvignon Blanc.

Winery’s Tasting Notes: Medium body with citrus, melon and herb flavors that linger on the palate and end with a crisp finish. Aroma of fresh lemon-lime, intense peach, citrus, and herbs mingle with floral accents.
Winemaker Notes: Sauvignon Blanc grapes are grown in the estate vineyards across a total of 47 vineyard blocks. Warm days and cool nights contribute to long, even ripening. Sauvignon Blanc vines are trellised with an interior tunnel to increase airflow so that the grapes don’t overheat and retain freshness, aromatics and flavor. The wine is fermented in stainless steel
Appearance: Good clarity with light straw color.
From: Casablanca Valley, Chile
Winery: Veramonte–The winery at Veramonte is a state-of-the-art, modern winemaking facility designed by one of Chile’s foremost leading architects, Jorge Swinburn. Opened in 1998, the winery includes the latest technology in bottling lines, gravity-fed fermentors and ultra-modern stainless steel tanks. It is also designed for small-lot winemaking, allowing separate fermentation and aging of individual vineyard blocks and experimental vineyard plots. When guests enter the winery they are welcomed to the “Casona,” a breathtaking room with a soaring rotunda, ceilings and glass walls which reveal the barrel caves below. Tours and tastings, available seven days a week, include pairings with Veramonte wines and local cheeses, or artisan Chocolates.

Cost: $10.99 SRP
Year: 2009
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Ventisquero Queulat Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Our Notes: Soft, not a traditional Sauvignon Blanc. We thought it didn’t have much character. A bland, lightweight wine.
Tasting Notes: Pale green of crystalline aspect. Complex and elegant aromas of citric and tropical fruits, such as grapefruit, lime, pineapple and white peach, with delicate mineral notes that express complexity and freshness. Elegant and well-balanced acidity that retains the freshness and fruit flavors with a clean and long aftertaste.
From: Casablanca Valley, Chile
Winery: Ventisquero–Ventisquero is located very close to the ocean’s coast in the Maipo Valley, in the district of San Pedro, Metropolitan Region. Viña Ventisquero has invested $33 million in building a state-of-the-art winery at the Trinidad vineyard. It was developed with the objectives of efficiency, high quality and state-of the-art technology in mind. These objectives are reflected throughout the entire production process.

The grapes start off in a gravity-fed reception system that allows for gentle handling of fruit. Sorting tables are used to select the highest-quality berries, which are then transferred to stainless steel tanks where fermentation occurs.

The design of the winery itself is ecologically sound, incorporating a waste water recycling and treatment system which produces water for the irrigation of our vines. Great care is taken to preserve native flora and fauna and special attention is given to energy-conserving measures.

Cost: $17 SRP
Year: 2009
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Goes with: Recommended drink temperature of 10-12 degrees C. This wine is ideal for salad, seafood, soft fish, fresh cheese, white meats, fresh fruit desserts, and also as an aperitif.

Undurraga T.H. Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Our Notes: Good nose. It opens up after a few minutes. Smooth, well-rounded wine. Some pepper in the taste. Another good example of Sauvignon Blanc.
Tasting Notes: This is a bright and citric Sauvignon Blanc. Enticingly fragrant, it reveals aromas of ripe limes, grapefruit and blackcurrant leaves, sprinkled with subtle notes of green chili pepper and fennel. It is fresh, concentrated and balanced, with a slightly mineral palate, a soft texture and long persistence.
Winemaking Notes: The grapes were carefully transported and rigorously sorted at the winery, ensuring that only ripe clusters, free from rot, underwent a short cold maceration followed by gentle pressing. Free run and lightly pressed juice was chilled to 8C and cold stabilized for 48 hours. The juice was then racked to stainless steel tanks, where it was fermented at low temperatures (13 C – 15 C) for 22 days until dry.
From: Leyda Valley, Chile
Winery: Undurraga–Undurraga has a modern and efficient winemaking cellar, located in the Santa Ana Estate in Talagante, where its wines undergo fermentation, processing, aging, and bottling.
This cellar, with a capacity close to 20 million liters, contains computer-controlled presses that slide along rails to the temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation tanks. The cool antique underground cellars dating back to the 19th century juxtapose beautifully against the modern vinification plant.
Cost: $15.99-$16.99 SRP
Year: 2009
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc (70% Clone Davis 1, 20% French clone 242, 10% French clone 107)

Singe Vineyard Wild Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Our Notes: Something was wrong with our wine. We think it was corked. So we couldn’t evaluate it.

Tasting Notes: Brilliant light yellow color with green hues. Intense aromatic profile, savory with a distinctive mineral character. Full bodied, with a tight acid structure. Very flavorful earthiness and spice, complementing the mineral character of this wine. Long elegant finish.  Enjoy now or cellar for up to 3 years.

Traditional winemaking methods were used to obtain as true a reflection as possible of the fruit flavors, soil type, and climatic conditions. The fruit was carefully hand selected. Grapes went directly to the press. The barrels were filled directly from the press, where the juice underwent a ‘Wild Fermentation’ process. To achieve a successful natural fermentation, no yeast was added so the natural yeast on the grapes remained undamaged. The wine was aged in large 500-liter French oak barrels for six months. No malolactic fermentation took place, so that the natural acidity could be retained.

From: Leyda Valley, Chile
Winery: Valdivieso–The winery is equipped with all the technology necessary to produce high quality wines, including pneumatic presses, stainless steel tanks, computerized temperature control systems, state-of-the-art stabilization equipment, and a barrel room with temperature and humidity controls.

Guests are welcomed in an excellent visitors center with tasting facilities, which allows them to taste our wines and get know us better.
Cost: $21.99 SRP
Year: 2009
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Goes with: Valdivieso Wild Fermented Sauvignon Blanc pairs very well with grilled fish, tuna tartare, fresh shellfish or any light pasta dishes. Serve at 9°C.

Santa Rita Medalla Real Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Our Notes: Very nice nose. Good citrus flavor, lots of grapefruit. Long finish, high acidity.

Winemaker’s Comments: Brilliant light greenish-yellow in color. The great fruit expression shines the spotlight on grapefruit and lemon blossom citrus notes combined with the classic gooseberry and distinctly mineral finish that is characteristic of the Leyda Valley. Elegant and compact, this is a tremendously balanced wine with vibrant acidity that spreads over the palate as it develops its fruity components and delivers its long fruit-driven finish.

In 1880, Mr. Domingo Fernández Concha, a distinguished entrepreneur, founded Viña Santa Rita (Santa Rita Vineyard), in the area of Alto Jahuel.

In those years, Viña Santa Rita established itself as a modern viticulture company and, at the same time as an important cultural and political center. Its awe inspiring manor house and beautiful surrounding park still retains the echoes of magnificent receptions, memories of important visits and themes which inspired some remarkable artists. From the end of the 1800s until the mid 1970s, the vineyard was developed under the leadership of Mr. Vicente García Huidobro, son in law of Mr. Domingo Fernández Concha, who continued the legacy and ideals of its founder. In 1980, the Claro Group, in association with a North American company, acquired the registered brand names, the Alto Jahuel winery and 50 hectares of vineyards adjacent to the facilities. In 1988, the Claro Group took total control of the vineyard when it acquired the foreign partner’s share. In December 1991, it purchased the rest of the old hacienda, the house built by Mr. Domingo Fernández Concha, the chapel, the park, and the XVIII century house owned by Mrs. Paula Jaraquemada.

Currently, Viña Santa Rita holds a strong leading position in the domestic and foreign markets, exporting its prestigious wines to over 60 countries in five continents. For more than 120 years, its commitment to quality and constant innovation has been key factors in its successful path and key aspects in its long-term development and growing plans.

From: Leyda Valley, Chile
Winery: Santa Rita
Cost: $19.99 SRP
Year: 2009
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc (80% Clone 242, 10% Clone 1, 10% Clone 108)

Cono Sur Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Our notes: Good, simple wine. Apple notes on the palate. Very nice for sipping on the porch. Also good with food. We had it with Chicken Yakatori, a teriyaki-based marinade, and we loved it. Nice balance with the food.

Winemaker’s Comments: Cono Sur Vineyards’ Winery was founded in 1993, with the vision of producing premium, expressive and innovative wines conveying the spirit of the New World. Our name refers to the company’s geographic position; it represents wines proudly made in South America’s Southern Cone, on whose western edge lies Chile and its gifted wine valleys. Our logo also evokes a freehand drawing of the silhouette of South America.

Our quest is to present the world with the finest grape expression and character from Chile’s varied wine regions. Right from the start Cono Sur applied the newest ideas and technology to winemaking’s traditional methods. Our main goal, therefore, is to create expressive and innovative wines from one of the world’s southernmost wine regions.

This Sauvignon Blanc, made from organically grown grapes, certified by BCS Öeko Garantie GmbH, carries the spirit of our farm workers pedaling their way to the Cono Sur vineyards every day. Young and fresh, this wine has a nice pale yellow color with green hints. Its intense nose of citric aromas, such as grapefruit and chili pepper notes, anticipates a balanced and mineral mouth of great acidity and persistence. Overall, this is an expressive, refreshing, delicate, juicy and balanced Sauvignon Blanc.

From: San Antonio Valley, Chile
Winery: Cono Sur
Cost: $13.00 SRP
Year: 2009
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Goes with: This wine is one of the best options to serve as an aperitif, accompanying artichoke dips, vegetarian dishes, Italian dressings and creamy sauces. It also goes great with a variety of soups and sushi.

Haras de Pirque Haras Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Our Notes: This was a great wine. Elegant, well-made. Everyone loved it. One of the best.

Tasting Notes: Light yellow with a pale green hue. A fresh and elegant wine, made in a fruit-forward style with flavors of fresh herbs, grapefruit, white peach and tropical fruit. Finishes with excellent length and crispness.
In accordance with the Appellation of Origin Law, Viña Haras de Pirque is located in the winegrowing region of the Maipo Valley, Pirque subregion, both classified internationally as producers of fine wines.
• Cold spring temperatures and good canopy management protected bunches from sun exposure, giving the wines from this vintage a perfect balance between alcohol, acidity and pH.
• Grapes were hand picked in February and early March at three different stages of ripeness to retain natural acidity.
From: Maipo Valley, Chile
Winery: Viña Haras de Pirque–”We follow the Integrated Best Management rules in the vineyard. This means that we use biological products only to control plagues that may cause economic damage to the vines; Insects are regulated by insects. Biological control with predators; Certification ISO 14.001, in the whole productive process. (Vineyard and Winery) We recycle 100% of all solid materials and limit the use of water and energy.”
Cost: $12.00 SRP
Year: 2009
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Casa Silva Cool Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Our Notes: It’s a very pale wine, looks almost like water. But a very nice wine, with pineapple flavors. Much better with food. It had a touch of effervescence. A very popular wine.
Tasting Notes: Intense aromas of fresh pineapple with citric notes. The palate is firm with refreshing acidity and mineral character. A very elegant and long finish which reflects the cooler climate and terroir.
Winery: Casa Silva–The Casa Silva vineyard sits in the narrow gap between the Andes and the coastal mountains. The region, near San Fernando is called Angostura (the narrow place) owing to the short distance between the two mountains. On the estate lie many historic vines that date back to 1912. The cellar itself, next to the hundred year-old estate, is the oldest and most traditional cellar of Viñas de Colchagua.
Cost: $22.99 SRP
Year: 2009
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Goes with: Outstanding companion for seafood, especially oysters, sea urchins and scallops. Also a fantastic match for ceviches.

2 Responses to “Wines of Chile Blogger Tasting”

1. Wines of Chile» Blog Archive » Wines of Chile On-Line 3rd Blogger Tasting: Sauvignon Blanc says:

   May 29, 2010 at 1:08 pm

   [...] Bottle Report shares their own notes on the tasting along with a summary of their positive experience and there is a cute pic of the event [...]
2. Thomas@ The Blog Wine Cellar says:

   June 10, 2010 at 1:25 am

   Great review of the tasting! I really enjoyed this tasting as well and think it was a brilliant idea from Wines of Chile. I wish the video platform would have been a bit better but it was still fun to chat with all the wine bloggers! I couldn’t stop laughing at some of the thing the wine bloggers were saying! We’re a funny bunch! Check out the notes on my blog here: http://www.blogwinecellar.com/2010/05/wines-of-chile-2009-sauvignon-blanc.html .

   Not trying to spam but just thought you might want to see if our notes matched up at all! If you want to swap a link or something just hit me up an e-mail! Cheers!