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BUYINGGUIDE
bitter notes, while this tastes outright pithy on the
finish. Drink now. Wines & Beyond Import. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $11
84
Chilensis 2015 Reserva Estate Bottled Sauvignon
Blanc (Maule Valley). Grapefruit aromas
are a touch stale and harsh. This feels plump,
with just enough acidity. Citrus and green-herb flavors
roll onto a finish that feels oily and grabby. Old
Bridge Cellars. Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 13% Price: $10
84
Cono Sur 2016 Bicicleta Sauvignon Blanc
(Central Valley). Basic citrus and greenleaning
aromas introduce a mild palate with flavors
of lime, celery and green herbs. A light, easy finish
is on the watery and hollow side. Vineyard Brands.
—M.S.
abv: 12% Price: $12
84
Santa Helena 2013 Gran Reserva Sauvignon
Blanc (Colchagua Valley). Tropical and vegetal
aromas turn more green as this sits. A plump,
slightly tired mouthfeel indicates that this is losing
steam. Vegetal, briny, pickled flavors are vacuous
when it comes to fruit. Misa Imports. —M.S.
abv: 13% Price: $15
83
Concha y Toro 2016 Casillero del Diablo
Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Chile). Aromas
of bland citrus, oyster shell and pool water are not
stout or convincing. This basic SB feels flat, while
flavors of bell pepper and salted pickle finish light,
bland and green. Excelsior Wines. —M.S.
abv: 13% Price: $11
83
La Fortuna 2014 Twelvestones Estate Grown
and Bottled Sauvignon Blanc (Chile). This
confusing SB is bold in color, with aromas of petrol
and apple juice. Dry, bitter melon, papaya and white
pepper flavors control a dull finish. Chilean Sisters
Imports LLC. —M.S.
abv: 13% Price: $10
83
Undurraga 2015 T.H.Terroir Hunter Lo Abarca
Sauvignon Blanc (San Antonio). A harddriving,
ultragreen nose oozes pure bell pepper. A
plump palate with cutting lime-like acidity adds
zest and sharpness to vegetal citrus flavors. Packed
to the brim with pyrazines, this is about as green as
SB gets. Maritime Wine Trading Collective.—M.S.
abv: 13% Price: $22
82
Albamar 2016 Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca
Valley). Briny aromas of sauerkraut fail to
make much of an impression. This is dull in feel,
with bitter, fruitless flavors. On the finish, bitterness
remains. Drinkable but with few positives.
Global Vineyard Importers. —M.S.
abv: 13% Price: $12
81
Echeverria 2016 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc
(Curicó Valley). With a strange pink color
and powdery nondescript aromas, this is shapeless
and lacking in structure. Weak bitter flavors
are completely fruitless; overall this seems to be
going nowhere good. Ararat Import/Export Co. LLC.
—M.S.
abv: 13% Price: $10
87
SAUVIGNON GRIS
Cousiño-Macul 2015 Isidora Sauvignon Gris
(Maule Valley). This varietal Sauvignon Gris
isn’t as aromatic as the more pungent Sauvignon
Blanc. In the mouth, this is medium in body, with
good overall texture. Dry racy flavors of scallion and
bitter melon are not exuberant but turn fruitier on
the finish. MundoVino–The Winebow Group. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $15
86
Leyda 2015 Single Vineyard Kadún Sauvignon
Gris (Leyda Valley). Initial aromas
of canned peas and green fruits are classic Leyda.
This Sauvignon Gris is intense on the palate, with a
sense of green grape skins to the mouthfeel. Potent,
racy flavors are herbaceous, while bell pepper is a
key flavor on the finish. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $18
89
CHARDONNAY
Viña Tabalí 2014 Vetas Blancas Reserva
Especial Chardonnay (Limarí Valley). Melon
and citrus scents blend with notes of crushed vitamins
and lanolin. This feels round and smooth, with
acidic kick that helps maintain balance. Melon and
creamy flavors lead the charge, with a briny hint
in the background. Drink now. Biagio Cru & Estate
Wines, LLC. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $18
87
Leyda 2015 Single Vineyard Falaris Hill Chardonnay
(Leyda Valley). A bright nose with
green apple and citric aromas comes with mild oak.
This is acidic and racy in composition, with roundness
along the edges of the palate. Apple and nectarine
flavors are lightly oaked and salty, while this
holds form on a high-acid finish. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $18
87
Morandé 2014 Gran Reserva Chardonnay
(Casablanca Valley). Aromas of orange peel
and citrus pulp are oily but not oaky. This is chunky
and seems to be starting to fade. Salty citrus flavors
are mild, while controlled saltiness persists on the
finish. Drink now. Grupo Belen USA. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $25
86
Cousiño-Macul 2015 Chardonnay (Maipo
Valley). Apple aromas are standard, clean
and direct. This everyday Chardonnay feels plump,
with modest acidic boost. Peach, melon and mild
salty flavors finish solid, with no added complexity.
MundoVino–The Winebow Group. Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $10
86
Pura 8 2013 Reserve Chardonnay (Rapel Valley).
Lanolin and squash aromas indicate
that this is fading. The palate is wide and fleshy but
lacking in a focal point. Flavors of spiced pumpkin
and aged apple are a bit like holiday pie, while modest
acidity on the finish ensures that this is bland on
the exit. MHW, Ltd. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $16
85
Chilensis 2015 Reserva Estate Bottled Chardonnay
(Maule Valley). Basic apple, melon
and bready aromas are fine but not distinct or
complex. Ditto the palate, which feels balanced but
highly basic. Simple papaya and melon flavors finish
flat. Old Bridge Cellars. Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $10
85
De Martino 2014 Legado Reserva Chardonnay
(Limarí Valley). This low-sizzle Chardonnay
opens with little to nothing in the way of
fruit aromas. The palate is chunky, with squash
and bready flavors. A lightly vegetal, bitter finish is
plump but low on intensity. Broadbent Selections,
Inc. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $20
85
Kingston Family 2015 Sabino Chardonnay
(Casablanca Valley). Grainy, oaky aromas
of clove, cinnamon and wood spice sit atop minimal
white-fruit notes. This feels lean and linear,
with overriding resiny barrel influences. Savory
and forceful oak flavors dominate tart apple notes,
while this offers mostly resin and spice on the finish.
Kingston Family Vineyards. —M.S.
abv: 12.5% Price: $26
85
Rubus 2015 Chardonnay (Colchagua Valley).
Midlevel apple-based aromas are mild, as is
a palate that’s more basic than exciting. Oily tropical
flavors of banana and pear turn slightly bitter
on a finish that shows a green-leaning note of bell
pepper. Kysela Père et Fils. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $15
84
Tololo 2014 Chardonnay (Maule Valley).
Generic apple aromas are short on intensity
and length. This tastes of melon but not much
more. A light, dilute finish with bready flavor notes
ensures that this is O.K. for easy quaffing. Regal
Wine Imports Inc. Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 13% Price: $8
84
Viña Chocalan 2015 Gran Reserva Origen
Chardonnay (San Antonio). Cool-climate
aromas of bell pepper and asparagus are minimally
ripe. This feels round and a bit chunky, with strong
core acidity. Pyrazine-driven flavors of asparagus and
pickled cucumber are persistently briny on the finish.
MHW, Ltd. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $16
83
Lapostolle 2014 Casa Grand Selection Chardonnay
(Casablanca Valley). Fleshy vegetal
aromas of squash and pumpkin lead to a flat palate.
This tastes like zucchini and squash, with bit-
60 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MARCH 2017