2018 LATE HARVEST SAUVIGNON BLANC, Valle de Curicó, Viña Echeverría, Chile

Made by Roberto Echeverría from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from a single vineyard in the Curicó Valley on ungrafted vines. The soils are alluvial, with clay loam and gravelly stones. There is a high diurnal range here (high: low, day: night temperature range) which makes for ideal ripeness whilst preserving high levels of acidity.

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Viña Echeverría remains a family-owned estate having been established in 1930 by the Echeverría family in the Valle de Maule in Central Southern Chile. They make a large cross section of wines and styles from numerous varietals, and from several different areas, adapting their growing and sourcing of vines that are in ideal climatic, soil type, and growing conditions. Viña Echeverría has recently been awarded its Sustainable Winery status by Wines of Chile, as well as its ISO9000 certification.

The grapes were left on the vine well into the autumn and the growing conditions in 2018 were ideal (misty damp mornings and sunny warm afternoons) for the noble rot mould botrytis cinerea to form naturally on the grape skins. This results in a dramatic desiccation of the berries and a loss of around 80% in volume (family water) resulting in super sweet and complex juice. Individual shrivelled berries were handpicked over a period.

The grapes were pressed, and the chilled juice was left for 48 hours. Fermentation with inoculated yeast took place for 45 days in stainless steel. Fermentation is stopped leaving natural grape sugars – in this case 93g/lt residual. The wine was then aged in French oak for around 6 months.

Offered in a dinky half bottle. Sweet (not too sweet) with a luscious and creamy mouthfeel. This is amazing with notes of dried apricot, Seville marmalade, and a hint of honey. Above all, the acidity gives wonderful balance and freshness to the wine.

Serve well chilled and can be enjoyed over a week or so if stoppered and put back in the fridge. Ready for drinking now and over the next year to 2-3 years. This is terrific value for money.