PalateMatch

Today I am tasting the 2009 Anakena Sauvignon Blanc from the Valle Central of Chile. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc based wine was purchased for under $8 and comes attractively packaged with a Double Headed Duck engraving. This wine is not aged in oak barrels. I’ve previously reviewed the 2007 Anakena Sauvignon Blanc, so it will be interesting to compare these vintages.

Color

In the glass it is surprisingly golden for a Sauvignon Blanc that has seen no oak. Very attractive.

Aroma

On the nose there are lime and grapefruit components. It comes across as very fresh and full of citric acid notes.

Flavor

The lemon and lime shows well on the attack with more of a lemon custard component on the mid-palate which is really nice. The finish is little hot but showing good acidity and grapefruit. The flavors linger for a decent amount of time. This wine is food friendly and will pair with salads, shrimp, and lighter fish.

Rating

This is a simple but decent Sauvignon Blanc. It doesn’t have any incredibly interesting flavors that make it notable on its own, but I recommend it be consumed with a meal. I rate it 86 points.

I found this vintage to be about as pleasing as the 2007, although the flavors and aromas do vary. Have you compared vintages over time? Did you see any changes in the flavors and aromas or do you think your palate might have also changed over time?

Today I am tasting the 2009 Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc from the Valle Central in Chile. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc comes in attractive packaging with a screw-cap and is shipped via a Carbon Neutral delivery method. I love the environmental approach by Cono Sur and found this bottle for under $9. I was very impressed by the 2008 Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc, so it will be interesting to compare.

Color

Very light golden color in the glass. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Aroma

Grapefruit and passion fruit on the nose. There is also some good lemon components.

Flavor

A hint of green apple on the attack along with strong passion fruit. The mid-palate shows some great lemon. The finish is long with predominantly grapefruit and limes. This wine is super crisp with great acidity. If you like the citrus flavors then this wine is delicious. It will pair well with seafood, chicken, salads and many other light dishes. Due to the strong lemon, I’d love to try it with key lime pie. In additon, it will work well as an apéritif.

Rating

I like this wine and recommend you give it a try. I rate it 92 points.

Have you had this wine?

Today I am tasting the 2008 Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc from Domains Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) in Chile. I found this bottle for under $8. I wasn’t able to locate the percentage of the varietal or the oak treatment for this wine. Anyone know? I’d love for all brands to provide this on the label.

Color

In the glass, this wine is more like a mix of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in color. It has a nice golden tint.

Aroma

On the nose there is quince, oak and lime. I also get some grapefruit components.

Flavor

The attack has some apple and sweet flavors. There is also a bit of gooseberry present. It transitions to more of a citrus flavor on the mid-palate with some lime and grapefruit on the finish. The mid-palate has a over-ripe cantaloupe component which is really interesting. It shows some creamy flavor probably most likely due to an oak treatment. The acidity is good on the finish and it is very long. It pairs really well with fish, chicken and salad.

Rating

I like this wine. It is smooth and easy on the palate. It has different characteristics than a big fruity Sauvignon Blanc such as those from New Zealand. I rate it 88 points and a good value.

Today I am tasting another varietal from Vina Anakena. The 2007 Anakena Sauvignon Blanc is from the Central Valley in Chile and is available for under $10. The bottle is adorned with a Double headed duck engraving. This white wine is not aged in oak. In my experience, Sauvignon Blanc produced in Chile is a great wine for food and is not as fruity as the Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. It reminds me of similar offerings from South Africa and France.

Aroma

This wine has a pleasing aroma of fruit. In particular, I smell pear and apple. It smells refreshing and has some citrus components. Overall it has a very good nose.

Flavor

There is good acidity in this Anakena varietal which makes it crisp and a great match for food. It is a very mild flavored wine with some sour apple flavor. I would pair it with seafood, salads, and a mild cheese. Generally this is a wine that has a little flavor initially, but then quickly fades away to nothing. It doesn’t have any bad flavor, so it could work well for non-wine drinkers who are just starting to taste wine with food. Has anyone tried it (well chilled) as an introductory wine for friends?

Rating

I recommend this wine for when you want a wine that really doesn’t interfere with the flavor of food. As an apertif it is a little too plain for my palate. I rate the 2007 Anakena Sauvignon Blanc at 86 points.

Have you tried it with or without food?