The Vinas Chilenas Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is a $4.49 (it has been the same price for 10 years) Trader Joe’s import exclusive. It is a Sauvignon Blanc sourced from vineyards in the Central Valley of Chile. Rosario Estate is named on the label and they are a part of the VSPT wine group which is one of the top twenty wine companies in the world.
The Rosario Estate is located in a very unique and specific location in the Maipo Valley inside the Central Valley, but this Sauv Blanc does not seem to be taken from that location. The Reserva designation in Chile only indicates that the alcohol content is at least 12% and here it is exactly 12%.
This is my first 2021 vintage wine of 2022, Chile is in the Southern Hemisphere and our summers and winters are reversed. As a 2021 vintage, this is a young wine that was subject to little or no aging. That is not a problem with the Sauvignon Blanc grape which does very well as a bright, fruit-forward wine. This is a wine that the sooner you drink it the better, it needs no additional time.
The Vinas Chilenas line of wine has been a trader Joe’s wine fixture for over a decade and has always offered excellent value. It is produced by one of the larger wine companies in Chile and has the resources and vineyards to produce a top-quality value-priced wine.
The Vinas Chilenas Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is a very pale golden yellow. The nose is subdued, this is not one of these New Zealand Sauv Blancs that you can smell from a foot away from your glass. There are aromas of grapefruit, pear, honey, apple, lemon, melon, and soft tropical fruit. The Vinas Chilenas Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is also subdued on the palate but has pleasant flavors and zesty acidity.
This Sauvignon Blanc tastes like green apple, lime, dried pear, juicy peach, and lime. The mid-palate adds that salty/ nutty sensation, tangerine, and nectarine. The acidity does its job, the flavors have time to unfold and it makes you want to take the next sip.
The Summary
- The Vinas Chilenas Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is not a 12 dollar Sauvignon Blanc masquerading as a $4.49 wine.
- It is a value-price wine that has good body and enjoyable flavor and hits well above its price tag.
- It would pair well with spicy noodles or shrimp.
- It probably will not be your favorite Sauvignon Blanc, but it could be your favorite $4.49 Sauv Blanc.
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