Veramonte Ritual Sauvignon Blanc – Tour of Chile Part 2 (Coastal Whites)

100% Sauvignon Blanc from Casablanca Valley, Chile.

SRP of $18 and available for as low as $16. Sample received courtesy Wines of Chile for review purposes.

From the bottle:

“Casablanca Valley is famous for Sauvignon Blanc. Its location between the rugged Pacific Coast and the soaring Andes Mountains produces wines with crisp and intense fruit flavors.

This is an elegant Sauvignon Blanc with floral, citrus and tropical fruit characters, richness on the mid-palate, and a long, smooth finish.

13.5% Alcohol”

The Andes Mountains to the east. The Pacific Ocean to the west. The Atacama Desert, which is the driest on earth, to the north. Ancient glaciers to the south. Just like Chile, today’s wine is unique. Usually the discussion over oaked vs unoaked centers around Chardonnay, and I have to admit that most of the Sauvignon Blanc I’ve tried (from New Zealand in particular) never sees any oak at all. So how does a little oak aging affect Sauvignon Blanc? Let’s find out.

The 2011 Veramonte Ritual Sauvignon Blanc begins with light pineapple, peach and floral aromas along with a touch of vanilla and butterscotch. The wine tastes rich and has some creaminess to it. It also features a bit of zesty lemon. This is a really smooth, soft and balanced wine with a long finish. Time well spent in oak in my opinion — I’d love to see more Sauvignon Blanc like this.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

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