Leyda Garuma Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is this lovely single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Chile that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on July 25 - with plenty still available across the province.

Viña Leyda is part of the VSPT Wine Group, a group of six Chilean and two Argentinean wineries. However, Viña Leyda does stand out on its own as a pioneer, planting vineyards in the Leyda Valley in 1998 well before it became a Designation of Origin in Chile. Leyda (the winery) is located on the western side of the Chilean Coastal Range of mountains, only 4 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. The coastal climate provided ideal conditions for winegrowing, however, they needed to innovate by building an aqueduct to bring water from the Maipo River to the valley. In 2001, they were able to prove that wines of the Leyda Valley were distinct and helped create the D.O. Leyda Valley appellation. Today, Viña Leyda is Chile's most awarded coastal winery.

Leyda is internationally renowned for producing some of Chile's finest cool-climate Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, including this delicious Garuma Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. This white wine is named after the Garuma, a small seagull that can be found along the Chilean coastline and sandy beaches all year-round. The grapes for this Sauvignon Blanc come from the producer's El Maitén vineyard in the coastal valley of Leyda, just 12 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean, and grown on a west-facing slope with plenty of cooling breezes from the ocean that allow the grapes to slowly and steadily ripen, while also adding a unique saline character to the wines. The soils here are granitic with calcareous encrustations. It is produced with 100% Davis 1 clone Sauvignon Blanc, a variant known for producing creamy and structured wines. All of the grapes were hand-harvested early in the morning and spent 4 months on the lees during vinification.

Tasting Note:

LEYDA GARUMA SINGLE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 - DO Leyda Valley, Chile (#99309) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. Lovely, elegant, and highly aromatic nose of ripe passion fruit, guava, and lime citrus surrounded by earthy minerality and saline notes. The creamy, medium+ bodied is palate is nicely textured with lemon-lime citrus, passion fruit, saline mineral, and green pepper flavours. Lively acids are finely balanced by the concentrated fruit. Hints of jalapeño join the lemon-lime citrus, passion fruit, and saline notes on the juicy, well-balanced finish, with very good length. Enjoy this distinctive, cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc well-chilled over the next 3-4 years. Recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other fine wines from the award-winning Leyda portfolio are available at the LCBO, but can also be ordered via Dandurand.