Pale straw-yellow color; orange blossoms, lemon, passionfruit, white peach on the nose; lemon, grapefruit, white peach, herbaceous green pea/asparagus notes, gooseberry, oak spice, hint of saline on the palate.
Dry; no tannins; good, racy acidity (3.1 pH). Grapes come from Morandé’s vineyards in Lo Ovalle on the western side of the Casablanca Valley, near the Pacific Ocean. Some 80% of the juice aged in large foudres, the remainder in oak barrels and concrete eggs for six months. Light body. The herbaceous notes can be off-putting on pop-and-pour, but the wine comes around with some air time in glass. 13.5% ABV
Founded in 1996, the Morandé Wine Group mission is to produce quality wines and explore the boundaries of innovation. The group notes: “The aim of our line wines is to express the virtues of the vineyard from which the grapes come with the least possible interference in the winemaking. We have achieved this thanks to the meticulous work carried out in our vineyards, where the key factor was the decision to plant each variety in its most appropriate place, bearing in mind the characteristics of the climate and soil.
“Another key factor is the differentiation of the micro-terroirs that exist within each vineyard, so that we can carry out specific vine-growing work in such as way as to obtain high-quality grapes. As a result, our wines are characterized by great balance in all aspects, plus an important structure in accordance with each variety, soil and climate in the vineyard. What we are searching for in each of our lines are harmonious, genuine wines that are an excellent representation of their type.”
Morandé Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile 2020 improves with some time in air, which mutes the herbaceous notes on pop-and-pour. Good fruit, excellent acidity. Clean, refreshing. Checks most of the aroma and taste boxes for a sauv blanc. Pair with shellfish; freshwater fish and seafood; pasta dishes with white sauce; pork; white meat chicken; salads and vegetarian fare. Cheese—goat cheese is the classic cheese pairing, also sheep’s milk; goat milk cheddar, gouda, havarti, monterey jack, muenster, parmesan, swiss. $22
