Elki Elki Sauvignon Blanc 2008
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Robert
Parker
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Elki’s 2008 Sauvignon Blanc has an expressive bouquet of spring flowers, melon, grapefruit, and lemon-lime. Impeccably balanced, this pure, vibrant wine has a long, fruit-filled finish and should provide pleasure for the next two years.
Elki wines are Estate grown, produced, and bottled at Viña Mayu in the Elqui Valley. Viña Mayu was established in 2005 as an independent part of Viña Falernia, the first Elqui valley fine wine producer, founded by Aldo Olivier Gramola in 1997. Aldo's family arrived in the Elqui Valley in 1951 from Italy and began growing table grapes and grapes for the production of Pisco (the national Chilean spirit) in 1975. Aldo's eldest son, Mauro, started working in the family vineyards for table grape production when he was very young; later he was involved in producing Pisco; and finally in 2005 he decided to start his own wine business, Vina Mayu, dedicated to producing only premium wines from the Elqui Valley.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Dramatic geographic and climatic changes from west to east make Chile an exciting frontier for wines of all styles. Chile’s entire western border is Pacific coastline, its center is composed of warm valleys and on its eastern border, are the soaring Andes Mountains.
Chile’s central valleys, sheltered by the costal ranges, and in some parts climbing the eastern slopes of the Andes, remain relatively warm and dry. The conditions are ideal for producing concentrated, full-bodied, aromatic reds rich in black and red fruits. The eponymous Aconcagua Valley—hot and dry—is home to intense red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.
The Maipo, Rapel, Curicó and Maule Valleys specialize in Cabernet and Bordeaux Blends as well as Carmenère, Chile’s unofficial signature grape.
Chilly breezes from the Antarctic Humboldt Current allow the coastal regions of Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley to focus on the cool climate loving varieties, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Chile’s Coquimbo region in the far north, containing the Elqui and Limari Valleys, historically focused solely on Pisco production. But here the minimal rainfall, intense sunlight and chilly ocean breezes allow success with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The up-and-coming southern regions of Bio Bio and Itata in the south make excellent Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Spanish settlers, Juan Jufre and Diego Garcia de Cáceres, most likely brought Vitis vinifera (Europe’s wine producing vine species) to the Central Valley of Chile sometime in the 1550s. One fun fact about Chile is that its natural geographical borders have allowed it to avoid phylloxera and as a result, vines are often planted on their own rootstock rather than grafted.