Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A really complex nose with the whole spectrum of ripe sauvignon aromas (citrus, melon, passion fruit). A hint of herbal character makes it more lively. Juicy and elegant with a long, polished finish.
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Wine & Spirits
Sauvignon shines in Las Dichas, six miles from the Pacific, where the vines are refreshed by cold winds off the sea. This wine’s aromas are timid, but the ripe fruit flavors and the penetrating acidity compensate for that aromatic shyness. This is creamy even as it’s refreshing, the flavors lasting as they will last in the cellar, where the wine will only gain in charm over the next few years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The subtle 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Cariblanco reminded me more of a wine from Sancerre than anything from New Zealand, with moderate acidity and a tasty saltiness, with moderate alcohol and good grip and citrus and white fruit aromas and flavors, with contained herbal aromas. Remarkably fresh for one of the warmest years in Casablanca. 6,384 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2017.
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.
A region that has become synonymous with some of the best whites of Chile, the Casablanca Valley is full of dozens of bodegas who either grow fruit here or come from outside to source from local growers for their own white wine programs. The valley runs from east to west, which means that its westernmost vineyards receive the most cooling influence from the reliable afternoon sea breezes. The soils also tend to be heavier in clay in the west, whereas the eastern end of the valley is warmer and its soils are predominantly granitic. Sauvignon blanc thrives here, Chardonnay does well and Pinot noir is not uncommon.