Indómita Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from Chile that arrived at the LCBO as part of the feature on wines from Chile in the recent February 3, 2024 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Viña Indómita, a prominent Chilean winery that was established in 2001 by the Del Pedregal family in a privileged location between Chile's two most important cities - Santiago and Valparaíso - in the cool-climate of the Casablanca Valley. As a fairly young wine producer, the modern architecture of the winery building has an unrivalled panoramic view of the valley, while nestled within the hill is the barrel room in which the temperature and humidity is naturally regulated.

Indómita's mission is to produce quality wines with a focus on sustainability and fair trade values. From vineyard to bottle, the grapes and the subsequent wine are carefully monitored to obtain the best
expression of the land. The mission is to create an ethical and responsible supply chain that benefits everyone from our winemakers to our end customers, while also promoting fair and transparent business practices that have a positive impact on our communities and the environment.

With several ranges of wines in the Indómita portfolio, this white wine is from their Gran Reserva range and represents the spirit of their vineyards. Indómita's Gran Reserva wines have character, are powerful, and outstanding. The Gran Reserva wines invite you to learn more about wine and its benefits, and is also an invitation to live the Indómita experience and enjoy life.

The Sauvignon Blanc grapes for this wine were grown in Casablanca Valley, a cold-weather valley that experiences the cool and saline winds of the Pacific Ocean, and is an extreme location for winegrowing due to the annual accumulation of heat barely reaching the minimum suggested levels for vineyards. The vines for this Sauvignon Blanc were planted in 2002 and 2006 on hillsides and the valley floor, on soil that ranges between a sandy and deep clay structure, with some gravel. The vineyards are planted in both North-South and West-East orientations, a combination that produces high oenological potential with very disparate profiles, and delivers powerful acidity and briny minerality. The grapes were crushed in a reductive environment, with only the free run juice obtained by gravity used to craft this wine. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks using selected yeasts, with gentle lees treatment. To add complexity, 3% of this wine was barrel-fermented and aged in barrels for 3 months.

The 2022 growing season in Chile's coastal wine regions, such as Casablanca Valley, has delivered a promising vintage with fresh and focused wines from a slightly cooler than average year. Cool-climate varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc particularly excelled. Let's see how this 2022 Sauvignon Blanc from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

INDÓMITA GRAN RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 - DO Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#544213) (XD) - $15.95
Elegantly aromatic with a medium-high intensity nose of guava, green herbs, lemon/lime citrus, grassy, melon, and jalapeño aromas with an underlying saline minerality. It has good weight on the medium+ bodied, dry and creamy palate with lovely lemon/lime citrus, green herb, guava, grassy, and melon flavour replays supported by juicy, well-balanced acidity. There's a touch of spice, along with some leesy minerality on the mid-palate. It's nicely textured with good structure, while leesy mineral notes linger on the long, succulent finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy with seafood! Score: 89 pts

Other lovely wines by Viña Indómita can be ordered through their Agent - Rare Earth Wines.