Santa Carolina Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (Chile) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious, certified-sustainable Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. It is a General List products at the LCBO and, while this vintage is likely long gone, the latest vintage is widely available at the LCBO outlets across Ontario.

It is produced by Santa Carolina, an historic Chilean wine brand that was established as Viña Santa Carolina in 1875 by Luis Pereira, who named it after his wife, Carolina Iñiguez. As a renowned producer for over 150 years, Santa Carolina produces a wide range of wines with consistent quality and is noted for being among the first Chilean wineries to receive international recognition.

Viña Santa Carolina was founded in the fertile soils of a young winemaking country located at the end of the world. The underground cellar was built in 1877 and has a history that fills caves and manuscripts found within its walls, along with memories of ancestral trades, dedication, innovation, knowledge, and hard work that forged the essence of one of Chile's oldest wineries.

After nearly a century in the hands of the Pereira family, Santa Carolina was acquired in 1974 by the Larrain family. In 2010, following the devastating earthquake that struck Chile, the winery was reconstructed and restored, and reopened to the public in 2012. Santa Carolina won several prestigious awards over the ensuing years and is considered one of the world's most powerful wine brands. The winemaking philosophy at Santa Carolina is to produce wines of consistent quality, while also having wines with unique and distinctive characteristics.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Sauvignon Blanc that was grown in both the Leyda Valley and the Maule Valley. The Leyda Valley, whose signature grape is Sauvignon Blanc, is located around the mouth of the Maipo River and has a Mediterranean climate under the strong influence of the Pacific Ocean, which results in winters with moderate rainfall and cool summers. The vineyards in Leyda Valley are planted on gentle hillsides with different exposures to the sun, which results in grapes with different flavour profiles and adds complexity. To craft this wine, the grapes were mostly harvested at night, and after a cold maceration they were processed in a pneumatic press, clarified, and then underwent a temperature-controlled fermentation using selected yeasts. It was then aged on its lees for a month to enhance complexity and persistence, without the use of any oak. From a very good growing season, let's see how this 2021 Sauvignon Blanc from Chile is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SANTA CAROLINA RESERVA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2021 - Valle de Leyda / Valle del Maule, Chile (#337535) (XD) - $13.95
Screw cap. Clean, crisp and generous medium+ to medium-high intensity aromas of lime citrus, kiwi, guava, gooseberry, herbs, and green apple, with leesy mineral undertones. On the dry, medium-bodied palate it offers crisp and vibrant acidity that lifts the lime citrus, kiwi, guava, gooseberry, leesy mineral, and herbal flavours. It is nicely balanced throughout, with lime, kiwi, and gooseberry flavours tapering to leesy mineral notes on the finish, with very good length. Great buy! Score: 89 pts