The Vinas Chilenas Sauvignon Blanc 2015 is a $4.49 Trader Joe’s exclusive brand sourced from grapes grown in Chile’s Central Valley. The Central Valley lies in between the Chilean Coastal Mountain Range and the Andes Mountains, it is a warm area with intense sunlight and a long growing season. This is a young wine, meaning that it wasn’t aged very long, if at all, and is meant to be consumed within a year or two of release. Young wines are fresh, fruit and fruit-forward, which works very well for a Sauvignon Blanc. The alcohol content is 12%.
The color is a pale wheat yellow with a hint of green. The nose is pretty, floral with lemon, pear, peach, pineapple and grapefruit. The is a medium to light bodied Sauv Blanc, with balanced acidity and smooth fruit and citrus flavors. It tastes of a mix of lemon, grapefruit, apple and pear. The mid-palate adds soft peach and guava. The acidity is well controlled, some Sauvignon Blanc can have too much of an acidic bite. The finish is full and lasts a very long time.
Taste in wine is a very personal thing, I never care which wine got 94 points or was declared a Best Buy, because I am perfectly capable of making up my own mind and taking my own wine journey. And with that said, if you are looking for an everyday summer White wine, something to put a little chill on and drink with friends out on the patio or balcony, it is hard to do better (for the money) than Vinas Chilenas Sauvignon Blanc 2015. It is a solid, “no issues”, young, balanced Sauvignon Blanc. It may not be your favorite Sauv Blanc in the world, but then again your favorite probably does not sell for $4.49. When you factor in the money, Vinas Chileans Sauv Blanc is hard to beat.
