Wine & Spirits - August 2018 - 82

IMPORTED NEW RELEASES
this is an exuberant sauvignon. Its herbaceous aromas and tropical fruit flavors fill
a dense and creamy white. Chill it for panroasted mahi mahi in a cream sauce. § Regal
Wine Imports, Moorestown, NJ
122912

122757

93 | Kingston Family

$22

2017 Casablanca Valley Cariblanco Sauvignon Blanc ^ Sauvignon shines in Las Dichas,
six miles from the Pacific, where the vines
are refreshed by cold winds off the sea. This
wine's aromas are timid, but the ripe fruit
flavors and the penetrating acidity compensate for that aromatic shyness. This is creamy
even as it's refreshing, the flavors lasting as
they will last in the cellar, where the wine will
only gain in charm over the next few years. §
Kingston Family Vineyards, Portola Valley, CA
122928

92 | Boya

$18

2017 Leyda Valley Sauvignon Blanc (Best
Buy) ^ A label from Amayna focused on fresh
wines, Boya draws on fruit from vineyards
close to the sea. Despite the warmth of 2017,
this delivers crisp freshness, generous in its
tart white fruits and grassy, herbal notes. A
great companion for ceviche. § Vine Connections, Sausalito, CA
122433

91 | Luis Felipe Edwards

$16

90 | Concha y Toro

$17

2017 Leyda Valley Autoritas Gran Reserva
Sauvignon Blanc ^ (Best Buy) ^ Grown on the
granitic hills of Leyda, at the south end of
the San Antonio Valley, this wine brings out
the exuberant tropical fruit of the 2017 vintage. It also refreshes with herbal notes and
acidity. Light and juicy, this is ready for crabs
roasted over a fire at the beach. § Pacific Highway Wines & Spirits, Petaluma, CA
122690
2017 Colchagua Valley Gran Reserva Serie
Riberas Ribera del Rapel Sauvignon Blanc
(Best Buy) ^ From the clay and granite soils of
the Cachapoal coast, this sauvignon owes its
unctuous personality to a very warm vintage
in Chile. The sunniness comes in tropical
fruit notes and in a texture that feels warm
and creamy, supporting deep flavors that fill
out the middle of the wine. § Excelsior Wine &
Spirits, Old Brookville, NY
122822

90 | Viña Quintay

$13

2016 Casablanca Valley Q Gran Reserva
Sauvignon Blanc (Best Buy) ^ Sourced from
Las Dichas, in southwestern Casablanca,
82

WINE & SPIRITS

AUGUST 2018

89 | Volcanes de Chile

$15

86 | Hacienda Araucano

$13

C HILE RED
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2017 Leyda Valley Reserva Sauvignon
Blanc (Best Buy) ^ A warm-vintage sauvignon, this wine's full tropical fruit flavors
meet tight acidity that balances it with herbal
notes. Pour it with grilled fish tacos. § Vias
Imports, NY
122769
2016 Lolol Valley Reserva Sauvignon
Blanc (Best Buy) ^ This sauvignon has enough
energy in its acidity to match ceviche. Its
citrus flavors meld with ripe fruit notes of
peaches and pears. Ready for summer. § Winesellers, Niles, IL
122739

86 | Odfjell Vineyards

$13

2017 San Antonio Valley Armador Estate
Selection Sauvignon Blanc (Best Buy) ^
Light and vibrant, this wine's acidity shines
within its soft texture. It's a sauvignon for
summer, to serve cold with sea bass nigiri. §
Foley Family Wines, Healdsburg, CA

WHITE BLENDS
122905

94 | Viña Ventisquero

$40

2015 Atacama Valley Tara White Wine 1 ^
In 2007, Ventisquero planted a vineyard on
chalky limestone soils in Huasco, on the
coast of the Atacama Desert-far from the
traditional Chilean viticulture. Winemaker
Felipe Toso and his team allow this chardonnay to ferment spontaneously, then age it in
old, neutral barrels, time that contributes to
the creamy texture of the wine without influencing its flavor. As for that flavor, it's a crazy
mix of organic aromas, meat and fruit emerging out of the rich texture, as if sparked by
the wine's electric and luminous acidity. It's
a fascinating take on an extreme terroir in
Chile. § Austral Wine Merchants, Decatur, GA
122745

92 | Errázuriz

$47

2016 Aconcagua Valley The Blend ^ This
Mediterranean-inspired white is a blend of
70 percent roussanne, the balance equal
parts marsanne and viognier, all growing in
the western reaches of the Aconcagua Valley, taking advantage of the fresh influence of
the sea. It has weight in its apricot and peach
flavors, and in a texture that would match a
plate of smoked salmon. The finish is slightly
floral, with nutty and herbal nuances that
give it charm. § Vintus, Pleasantville, NY

122919

93 | Santa Ema

$24

2016 Maipo Valley Amplus Cabernet Sauvignon (Best Buy) ^ This is an archtypal cabernet from Pirque, one of the highest spots
planted to vines in the Maipo Valley. With
seductive scents of menthol, herbs and tart
red fruit, the wines's acidity and fine tannins frame and support the fruity notes. It's
young and already delicious, ready to serve
with grilled flank steak. It's also ageworthy,
a subtle red that will gain in complexity and
depth. § Guarachi Wine Partners, Woodland
Hills, CA

CARMENERE

122924

92 | Santa Ema

$24

2016 Peumo Amplus One Carmenère
(Best Buy) ^ Peumo is one of the most famous
areas for carmenère in Chile. The cool air
that follows the Cachapoal River down from
the Andes meets the intense sun of the area,
allowing the vines to mature their fruit while
sustaining freshness in the grapes. This 2016
is packed with red fruit, graciously combined
with herbal notes in a texture that feels soft
and friendly, lasting on a slightly chocolatey
finish. § Guarachi Wine Partners, Woodland
Hills, CA
https://www.kingstonvineyards.com/product/2017-Cariblanco-Sauvignon-Blanc http://www.guarachiwinepartners.com/product/santa-ema-amplus-cabernet-sauvignon-2016/ http://www.guarachiwinepartners.com/product/santa-ema-amplus-one-2016/
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wine & Spirits - August 2018
