Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A hint of cream lays into a core of fresh citrus, pineapple and gooseberry notes, remaining focused and pure through the long, mineral-tinged finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Aconcagua Costa comes from the Chilhue estate just a few miles from the Pacific. It has a fine, gooseberry and grass clipping bouquet with touches of green asparagus underneath. The palate is crisp and citrusy on the entry with orange rind and white peach, leading to a very composed, fresh finish.
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.
The Aconcagua River runs east from the charming costal town of Valparaiso and bisects the land creating the valley after which it was named. While alluvial soils predominate the Aconcagua Valey along its river throughout, its east-west flow creates drastically different conditions on each of its ends. Its western, seaside vineyards, with clay and stony soils upon gently rolling hills, produce cool-climate varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Its inner region is one of Chile’s hottest and produces some of its best red wines. Panquehue in the inner Aconcagua is the site of Chile’s first Syrah vines, planted in 1993.