2023 SAUVIGNON BLANC, Pionero, Morande. Maule, Chile

Maule is a region well south of Santiago benefitting, like most of Chile, form guaranteed sunshine throughout the growing season, but cooled by both the proximity to the South Pacific and the influence of the Andes to the east. The grapes for this wine come from the Yerbas Buenas sub-region.

100% Sauvignon Blanc, fermented cool in steel tanks and briefly kept on lees before bottling after 3/4 months.

Morandé is a large family-owned winery, founded in 1996. They have always been innovators – the first to plant vines in Casablanca Valley; one of the first to revive interest in old vines in the heartlands of Maule and Itata; and to promote lesser-known varietals found there, like Carignan and Cinsault; early experimenters in high density vineyards and the use of larger oak barrels and concrete eggs; the first winery in Chile to be certified as fully ‘sustainable’.

Fresh, grassy and lively. Not as ripe and perfumed as NZ examples but all the more drinkable and food-friendly for that reason.