Month: September 2022

Chile, Chilean Wine, Sample, Sauvignon Blanc, Summer of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, Viña Morandé, Wine

Summer of Chilean SB: Viña Morandé Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Appetite for Wine

At long last, our Summer of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc is drawing to a close. It has been a long, hot summer here in NorCal, but we persevered with the help of these crisp, refreshing white wines. It’s been fun reaching into the wine chiller and randomly grabbing one of the bottles. Sadly, this time when we opened the door, there was only one Chilean Sauvignon Blanc left. The final wine for this series is the Viña Morandé Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2020.

The following wine was provided as a media sample for review. All reviews, descriptions, and opinions are our own. We received no additional compensation.

Pablo Morandé is a visionary, and reputed to be the first to plant grapes in the Casablanca Valley in the 1980s. He founded Viña Morandé in 1996 to further his vision for the future, and showcase the varied and diverse terroirs of Chile. Among other innovations, Viña Morandé launched a high-density planting program, with up to 10,000 vines per hectare. High-density planting allows growers to take better advantage of soil moisture and solar energy. In addition, Viña Morandé utilizes concrete eggs for fermentation, and large, oak foudres for aging. The result is high-quality wines that highlight the diversity of the Chilean terroirs.

With that, on the Autumnal Equinox marking the end of summer, we introduce the final wine in our Summer of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc.

Viña Morandé Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Pale straw color. Nose of citrus and tropical fruit. On the palate, lemon zest, quince, pineapple, mango, white grapefruit, and notes of straw and hay. Light body with tart acidity and a medium finish.

We hope you have enjoyed following along on the journey through our Summer of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. If you have the chance to try this wine, or any of the others in this series, please leave a comment to let us know how you liked them.

Cheers!

  • By Kent Reynolds and Robyn Raphael-Reynolds
  • Photos by Robyn Raphael-Reynolds
Casas del Bosque, Chile, Chilean Wine, Sample, Sauvignon Blanc, Summer of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, Wine

Summer of Chilean SB: Casas del Bosque La Cantera Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Appetite for Wine

At long last, we are moving out of 100°+ temperatures, and can see autumn on the horizon. There’s even rain in the forecast for today! But we still have a few more days of summer, so our journey continues! The penultimate wine in our Summer of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc is the Casas del Bosque La Cantera Sauvignon Blanc 2020.

The following wine was provided as a media sample for review. All reviews, descriptions, and opinions are our own. We received no additional compensation.

Casas del Bosque is located in Las Dichas, on the extreme west of the Casablanca Valley. The winery was founded in 1993 by the Cúneo family. The estate takes it name from the ancient pine forests, olive trees, and small adobe houses in the area. Casas del Bosque roughly translates to “Forest Houses.”

Casas del Bosque has 89 hectares under vine, planted with cool climate varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. They also source Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere from vineyards in Maipo, Colchagua and Cachapoal.

In addition to their passion for crafting fine wines, Casas del Bosque also promotes the region through wine tourism. They offer a wide range of tasting and tour options, including a harvest experience and bicycle tours, and also operate three restaurants, ranging from vineyard-centric casual, to gastronomic fine cuisine.

The western location of the vineyards are the coolest in the Casablanca Valley, which help promote excellent conditions for crisp Sauvignon Blanc wines. The name, La Cantera, is derived from an old granite quarry and the red clay soils in the area. The vines are planted in these rich soils, providing fresh minerality and structure.

Casas del Bosque La Cantera Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Soft golden color. Aromas of pineapple, citrus, and straw. On the palate, lemon lime, pineapple, quince, fresh cut grass, and a healthy dose of cat pee. The wine is light bodied, with vibrant acidity, yet a surprisingly soft, smooth mouthfeel. Long, citrus and tropical fruit finish. Perfect pairing with fish tacos.

Another fantastic Chilean Sauvignon Blanc to enjoy the waning days of summer. We hope you have the opportunity to try this wine. If you do, please let us know how you liked it by leaving a comment.

Cheers!

  • By Kent Reynolds and Robyn Raphael-Reynolds
  • Photos by Robyn Raphael-Reynolds
Chile, Chilean Wine, Matetic Vineyards, Sample, Sauvignon Blanc, Summer of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, Wine

Summer of Chilean SB: Matetic Vineyards EQ Coastal Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Appetite for Wine

We’ve made it past Labor Day Weekend in the United States, the unofficial end of summer. Yet it seems Mother Nature didn’t get the memo this year! We’ve just survived a record-setting heatwave in Northern California, with temperatures in the 110° to 115° range this past week. Thank goodness for dry, crisp, refreshing white wines. Remember, summer doesn’t actually end until September 22! As we continue our Summer of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, we cracked and enjoyed the Matetic Vineyards EQ Coastal Sauvignon Blanc 2020.

The following wine was provided as a media sample for review. All reviews, descriptions, and opinions are our own. We received no additional compensation.

Matetic Vineyards has it roots in Eastern Europe. The patriarch of the family business, Jorge Matetic-Celtinja emigrated to Chile in 1892, from a town in the Austro-Hungarian Empire that is now Rijeka, Croatia. He settled near the southern tip of Chile, in Punta Arenas. Fast-forward more than 100 years to 1999, when Jorge’s descendants planted vines in the Rosario Valley, in Casablanca, becoming pioneers in cool-climate viticulture in the region. The EQ line of wines was born with the first harvest in 2001. Grape varieties in that year included Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.

The Matetic family wasted no time in embracing organic and biodynamic farming practices, beginning that transition the very next year, in 2002. Certification was achieved in 2004.

The winery itself opened in 2003 and features a beautiful blend of modern architecture with the use of natural wood and stone from the nearby region. Environmentally friendly with gravity flow, the winery continues the sustainable tradition. Matetic Vineyards also built a boutique hotel, La Casona, which opened in 2004, and ushered in a commitment to wine tourism in the area.

The vineyards for this Sauvignon Blanc are planted just 3 ½ miles from the coast, in granite-rich soils. Cool mornings and sunny afternoons contribute to ideal growing conditions, resulting in fresh, crisp wines. As always, the proof is in the bottle!

Matetic Vineyards EQ Coastal Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Golden straw color. The nose is pineapple and citrus. On the palate, flavors of pineapple, lemon, lime, and quince, with notes of mango, passion fruit, and grass. Light body with zesty acidity, yet quite easy drinking. Great with seafood and also nice sipping on its own.

The Matetic Vineyards EQ Coastal Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a fantastic representation of the unique terroir that Chile has to offer. We thoroughly enjoyed this wine, and are confident that you will, too! If you try it, please let us know in the comments what you think of it.

Cheers!

  • By Kent Reynolds and Robyn Raphael-Reynolds
  • Photos by Robyn Raphael-Reynolds
Chile, Chilean Wine, Sample, Sauvignon Blanc, Summer of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, Viña Koyle, Wine

Summer of Chilean SB: Viña Koyle Costa La Flor Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Appetite for Wine

Our Summer of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc rolls on! We may never grow tired of these tasty, racy wines, and are ever grateful for them on what has been a summer for the record books with more than 35 days over 100°! Next up on our journey is the Viña Koyle Costa La Flor Sauvignon Blanc 2021.

The following wine was provided as a media sample for review. All reviews, descriptions, and opinions are our own. We received no additional compensation.

The people at Koyle Family Vineyards sound like our kind of people. Their tag-line on their home page is “A Great Family – Wine Runs Through our Veins”. Koyle Family Vineyards history spans six generations, beginning with Don Francisco Undurraga Vicuña in 1885. It was he who imported vines from France and Germany and plant them in Chile. The original winery was named Viña Undurraga, in 1903, became the first Chilean winery to export wines to the United States.

The Koyle Family Vineyards name was born in 2006, after Alfonso Undurraga and his son Cristóbal began planting grapes on the rocky slopes of the Andes Mountains, in Alto Colchagua. Three years later, in 2009, Koyle Family Vineyards began the process of becoming biodynamic and working with the International Demeter Biodynamic Federation. Their mission is to create wines that respect their origin and highlight the terroir of the region.

The Viña Koyle Costa La Flor Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is an exceptional wine that certainly expresses the character of the Chilean region. The grapes are from vineyards located just five miles from the sea, in granite soils rich in quartz and clay. The wine is sur-lie aged for four months to soften the natural, sharp acidity.  

Viña Koyle Costa La Flor Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Golden straw color. On the nose, citrus, tropical fruit, and cat pee. On the palate, flavors of big notes of quince, with lemon zest, pineapple, pear, white peach, grass, and minerals. Dry with tart acidity and a medium finish.

If you like a zesty, racy, puckery Sauvignon Blanc, this is the wine for you! It was super refreshing as we tried to cool down from another scorcher. If you try it, please let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

Cheers!

  • By Kent Reynolds and Robyn Raphael-Reynolds
  • Photos by Robyn Raphael-Reynolds