Since the last review we did was an updated vintage of a wine we’d previously reviewed, I thought we would continue that trend this week with another. Not too long ago we reviewed the 2009 Peñalolen Sauvignon Blanc and we’re already checking out the 2010 vintage of this wine.
How can that be? A 2010 Sauvignon Blanc on the market in early February of 2011. Well, remember that this one is from Chile and their seasons are opposite of ours. Therefore the grapes for this wine were actually harvested in spring of 2010 rather than fall. Or was it fall in spring? … I mean is April called “fall” in Chile? Now that I think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever been south of the equator to find that out. I need to plan a trip to experience this.
Anyway, getting back to reviewing this wine. The 2009 version of this wine was loaded with citrus and that continues in the 2010 vintage. But the 2009 also showed an interesting vegetal component on the nose that takes on more of a classic “cut grass” expression in the 2010.
Grapefruit, mineral, lemon and cut grass aromas give this wine the nose of a classic Casablanca Valley sauvignon blanc. The palate is loaded with citrus flavors, like grapefruit and lime. There’s also some melon flavor on the palate. The acidity is just right. The finish is medium-long and teaming with citrus and mineral flavors.
If you’re looking to explore Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, I highly recommend checking out those from Casablanca Valley. And this Peñalolen is a nice example of what you can expect from this region. To be clear, I’m not ruling out SB from other regions of Chile, but Casablanca Valley is pretty consistent and reliable for this varietal.
Wine: Peñalolen
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol: 12.5%
Rating: 87
Price: $12.00
Find Peñalolen Sauvignon Blanc with Snooth
Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.
I would like to share the tasting notes of this sauvignon blanc coming from Casablanca Valley:
SAUVIGNON BLANC D.O. CASABLANCA VALLEY – ESTATE BOTTLED – PRODUCT OF CHILE – PRODUCED AND BOTTLED BY AGRÍCOLA LLANCAY LTDA. – FUNDO LOMA LARGA – CASABLANCA 2008 13,5%
VISUAL ANALYSIS: crystal clear, straw yellow, quite flowing
OLFACTORY ANALYSIS : intense, quite complex, fine
DESCRIPTION : flowery(wild flowers), herbaceous(grass), spicy(vanilla), ethereal(talc), sundry smells(wood), fruity(yellow plum)
GUSTATIVE ANALYSIS : dry, warm, quite soft, fresh, tasty / full, quite balanced, intense, quite persistent(4/5), fine
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS : mature, quite harmonious
EVALUATION 82
* At the nose, there are a lot of small flavours, but nothing so decisive, that’s there are not flavours capable of being successful above all, but only olfactory pills which alternate gradually to the swirling the wine in the glass
* At the mouth, the final is lightly bitter
* EVOLUTION : mature
* PRICE-QUALITY COMPARISON: sufficient
* WINE-FOOD COMBINATION: congrio plateado a la mantequilla con pinceladas de ají de color (typical Chilean dish)
* MY PERSONAL OPINION: a sauvignon blanc which does not provoke great inspirations, then the advice is to taste it with trustworthy friends and not with women which need to be impressed