Santa Rita ESTATE Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 75cl 2017

Superb Sauvignon Blanc from the superior Casablanca Valley. Citrus and tropical fruit flavours, herbaceous and floral notes.

Vintage: 2017

Origin: Viña Santa Rita, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Taste guide: Dry, grapefruit and tropical fruit flavours, crisp and fresh, unoaked

75cl – 13.5% – screwcap

The vast majority of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc sold in the UK comes from the all-encompassing Central Valley designation. Nothing wrong with that – we have a few examples on our current list.

However, the very best Sauvignon Blanc is produced from grapes grown in cooler climates, such as the Valle de Casablanca, some 50 miles west of Santiago and just 15 miles from the cooling effect of The Pacific Ocean.

Viña Santa Rita has over 300 hectares of vines in Casablanca, many approaching 30 years old. The valley has a Mediterranean climate and a strong influence of the nearby ocean. The soil is alluvial, with a fine and sandy texture. It has low capacity for retaining moisture, leading to low yield and high concentration of varietal characteristics. The vineyards are planted at an average altitude of 500 metres above sea level, where the atmosphere is clear and bright.

Different clones have been planted for greater complexity. Each clone was harvested separately at the time of its optimal ripeness and vinified in the Alto Jahuel winery. Free-run juice and low pressure crushing were used to produce the Reserve level, in order to ensure high fruit concentration and a good acidity balance. Fined musts were fermented at low temperatures (13-14 °C) to allow good fruit development and retention. The wines were left on their lees before fining, followed by final blending and then bottling.

This Estate Reserve wine is pale straw in colour with a snappy citrus aroma showing mild bell-pepper scents – a typical Casablanca nose. The palate has pink grapefruit, passion fruit and ripe apricot flavours which are in balance with good minerality and a delicate herbal undertone. It is concentrated with a pleasant acidity that highlights its freshness and has firm structure with excellent persistence.