The 2010 Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from various Vina Cono Sur Santa Elisa Estate vineyards located in the Central Valley of Chile. The Central Valley runs the entire length of Chile, with the Andes on one side and the Coastal Range on the other. Cono Sur is not just a play on words, it translates to “Southern Cone” and it is the cone shaped region from the very tip of South America to up where the continent starts to widen, it includes Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. The various vats of Sauvignon Blanc are aged in stainless steel vats from 4 to 11 months, then blended together. The alcohol content is 12.5%. In a side note, this Sauvignon Blanc is not sourced from Cono Sur’s organic vineyards, but it is certified carbon neutral.
The color is a crystal clear wheat yellow. The nose is tropical fruit, tangerine and lime with a light touch of honey and melon. The mouthfeel is syrupy, it has a little heft to it, there are very balanced flavors, apricot, tart apple, pear and grapefruit are mingled together. The mid-palate adds lemon/lime and orange. No one flavor stands out ahead of the others, giving the Cono Sur a very clean, crisp and tart taste. The acidity is not noticeable until the finish and it helps the tingly citrus last a long time.
I found the Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc selling for $6.99 and it is a very solid bottle of wine. A subdued and balanced wine, tasty and elegant, it might be a bit too subdued to pair with many dishes, but it would hit the spot as a bottle to relax with after the meal is finished.
