Morandé Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Morandé Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Casablanca, Chile

£13-14, The Drink Shop, Corking Wines or via Wine Searcher

Earlier this year I had the misfortune to participate in one of the most depressing Decanter panel tastings ever.

We had 62 Chilean Sauvignon Blancs. The overall standard was thoroughly underwhelming. Mainly from the challenging (hot) 2017 vintage, which is one to be very wary of.

Within the car wreck that the tasting certainly was, however, there were some highlights.

This was one: a beautifully rounded, succulent yet fresh, food-friendly Sauvignon made by the hugely talented Ricardo Baettig at Morandé. (These are wines well worth following.)

It’s deftly oaked and cultured in feel, with lovely rich texture but also refreshing core – not to mention great value, when many white Bordeaux would be twice the price. A reminder, perhaps, that Sauvignon Blanc has a bright future in Chile – even if the category as a whole can be notably variable in quality.

This wine emerged as the highest scoring wine in the tasting overall. You can read more about the tasting and this wine in the full account of the tasting via this link: Chilean Sauvignon Blanc on the Rack.

(8/10, Peter, July 2018)