Sauvignon Blanc - Chile

If you asked most somms to describe Chilean Sauvignon Blanc in three words, they’d probably say ‘safe, cheap and fruity’. But this year, we got rather more than that. I don’t think the country has ever had the highest number of New World Sauvignons on our Gold List before.

Yes, the value for money was still pretty good – a lot of decent wines around the £10 mark – but there were signs of more ambitious winemaking too – of lees work and even barrel ageing. Getting this right without losing the zest and verve that make Sauvignon attractive in the first place is not easy, but on this evidence the Leyda winemakers, in particular, are really pulling it off.

Leyda was Chile’s star region in this year’s SWA and with three of the four Golds, it dominated here too. Some seriously good wines for the money that are interesting but still customer-friendly.

From The Tasting Teams

‘We found a few gems from Leyda with cooler-climate acidity, a little lees ageing, and maybe a touch of oak. There’s 100% a place for that. If you provide something interesting and value-oriented, that’s really going to sell.’ Andres Ituarte, team leader

‘They’re expressive of Sauvignon Blanc, but they’re not great wines. The best were classic, delicate and less extravagant – not trying too hard.’ Tanguy Martin, Blandford Comptoir

‘The Leyda wines offer freshness and aromatics, and are floral and easy to drink. At £7-£8 they’re good value, and also when you get up to £12. Very classic.’ Juan Manuel Marcos Perez, The Gilbert Scott Restaurant

‘The perception we have of Chilean wine is that they are house level and not much more, so the different or more expensive ones need to be something sold by the sommelier. They need stories and histories around the wine in order to sell. That’s the only disadvantage of a higher price point.’ Agostinho Leite, Bistrot Pierre at The Royal William Yard

‘Overall, the quality was high. Stylistically it was classic Sauvignon, and considering what you get for under £10 it’s pretty good.’ Laura Rhys MS, team leader

‘Casablanca is a safe choice to put on a list because people will order it, and it’s a good alternative to New Zealand.’ Agostinho Leite, Bistrot Pierre at The Royal William Yard

‘At some points [Leyda’s producers] were trying to aim for a different level of quality. Some here had lees and complexity and there are places for that style.’ Diego Carballido, Bar Boulud – Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

Award winners

Found 20 wines

New World: Sauvignon Blanc, Chile

Chocalán, Reserva, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Maipo Valley, Chile

'Classic New World Sauvignon, with juicy, ripe tropical fruits and fresh acidity.' Laura Rhys MS, team leader. 'This is a fresh and juicy wine with an expressive and delicate nose, and great varietal notes.' Tanguy Martin, Blandford Comptoir. 'With fennel, almond and melon aromas, leading to concentration and intensity on the palate, with well-integrated oak, this is rich and well put-together.' Charlie Young, team leader.

£9.63 Viña Chocalan

Siegel , Sauvignon Blanc, Gran Reserva 2019, Leyda Valley, Chile

'While this is grassy and fresh, with bright fruit and natural acids, it has a richer texture to it, with tropical and citrus fruits, and currant leaf too.' Andres Ituarte, team leader. 'Opening with some vegetal character, candied ginger and saline notes, this is textured and lifted, with primary fruit and nice balance, leading to a crisp finish with complex length.' Chris Delalonde MS, The Dorchester.

£10.90 VIÑA SIEGEL S.A.

Boutinot , La Leyenda de Las Cruces, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Leyda Valley, Chile

'This has a ripe and exuberant profile, with a touch of exotic and herbal character too, not to mention a classic grassy undertone on the palate, with lift and crisp delivery.' Chris Delalonde MS, The Dorchester. 'Citrus fresh notes on the nose, along with orchard fruit and a hint of spice, with good focus on the palate, and ripe fruit, but textured and fresh on the finish.' Charlie Young, team leader.

£6.95 Boutinot

Luis Felipe Edwards, Marea, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Leyda Valley, Chile

'This is a very green and crisp style, with intense asparagus and herbal notes, leading to a palate that's light and fresh, with good balance to it.' Sam Weatherill, Etch. by Steven Edwards. 'Pouilly-style, clean, fresh and elegant, with some great quality fruit and a persistent and intense palate that's showing some racy acidity and a long, peppery finish. Very fine.' Mattia Mazzi, Cornerstone.

£13.50 Matthew Clark

Leyda, Single Vineyard, Garuma, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Leyda Valley, Chile

'Showing some bright acidity with fresh green gooseberry and a touch of passion fruit, there's great balance of fruit and acidity, prolonged length.' Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO. 'Delicate and perfumed, and slightly peppery, with well-integrated fruit, showing some complexity and soft acidity.' Juan Manuel Marcos Perez, The Gilbert Scott Restaurant.

£11.35 Enotria&Coe

Morandé , Pionero, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Maule Valley, Chile

'Tropical fruits and green citrus with a touch of vegetal character all make this a textbook Chilean Sauvignon, and a very good by-the-glass option.' Laura Rhys MS, team leader. 'The freshness is good, with a well-balanced palate for the price point. This is quite fleshy and fruity in style, with some balancing fennel freshness.' Sam Weatherill, Etch. by Steven Edwards.

£7.00 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Mancura, Guardian, Sauvignon Blanc 2019, San Antonio, Chile

'With notes of green vine tomato and gooseberry, this has high acidity but is round on the palate, with some wild yeast character.' Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO. 'Herbaceous, with green fruit, nice balance and good acidity.' Gastón Adolfo, Margot. 'Good balanced fruit and elderflower, with some rusticity and acidity.' Agostinho Leite, Bistrot Pierre at The Royal William Yard.

£7.33 Morandé

Viña Requingua, Toro de Piedra, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Maule Valley, Chile

'A well-made wine with a mix of green gooseberry and passion fruit notes, as well as a creamy texture, with notes of coconut and toast.' Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO. 'With bold fruit, smoky minerality and a little more weight and complexity, this is a food-friendly style of wine.' Laura Rhys MS, team leader.

£9.52 Condor Wines

Caliterra, Reserva, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Casablanca Valley, Chile

'A pungent nose with a mineral note, a hint of ripe asparagus and some exotic notes - this is easy-drinking.' Tanguy Martin, Blandford Comptoir. 'Earthy and robust, this is a serious Sauvignon that would work well for food pairing.' Agostinho Leite, Bistrot Pierre at The Royal William Yard.

£6.59 Hatch Mansfield

Undurraga, Terroir Hunter, Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Leyda Valley, Chile

'A really well-made oaked Sauvignon, this is ripe and broad, with some subtle oak that adds texture and waxiness rather than any flavour, all leading to a lingering, nutty and peppery finish.' Mattia Mazzi, Cornerstone. 'A well-made richer style that I can see working on my list.' Diego Carballido, Bar Boulud - Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.

£14.52 Hallgarten & Novum Wines