Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
he 2013 Single Vineyard Garuma Sauvignon Blanc is produced with grapes from a south-facing vineyard, which in the Southern Hemisphere is the cooler orientation, and is the last Sauvignon Blanc to be harvested. The soils where the vineyards are located are rich in calcium carbonate. The must fermented in stainless steel, where the wine aged in contact with the lees for six months. The bottled wine has notes of gooseberries and tomato leaves, and is clean and focused, expressive and direct. It has superb freshness, and in a cold vintage like 2013, it has a razor-sharp palate with pungent flavors, and is refreshing and long, with a mineral finish. A very good Sauvignon at a great price. Drink now-2016.
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Wine Enthusiast
Snappy aromas of citrus and lime come with minerality on a bouquet that’s pungent but doesn’t punch. This feels clean, friendly and well built; flavors of lime, tangerine and mango finish persistent, with no breakdowns. This is what top Chilean Sauvignon Blanc is all about.
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.
An officially recognized sub-zone in the southern part of the San Antonio Valley, the Leyda Valley was the original settlement of the wine pioneers who came to the area in the 1990s. They were in search of cooler and wetter growing conditions—as compared to more eastern, drier and often warmer locations.
Planting, which began only in the late 1990s, focused on Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot noir and some limited spots for Syrah. The area continues to receive well-earned accolades for wines of these varieties.