A few weeks ago I reviewed the Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gran Reserva Chardonnay. In that review, I commented that the wine came from the Leyda Valley – which is known more for sauvignon blanc than chardonnay. Well… wouldn’t you know it, Santa Rita also produces a sauvignon blanc from this regaion.
Cool is the story behind this wine. The vineyards are cool, due to their proximity to the coast. The grapes undergo a cold soak before pressing in order to prevent oxidation or phenolic extraction. (I know that sounds super technical and nerdy. These are aroma and flavor compounds that come from the skins and seeds. In some wines the phenols are good, but in an acidic wine like a sauvignon blanc they become too astringent and are undesirable.) The must is also fermented at low temperatures in order to preserve the fruit characteristics in the wine. And the fruit is great in this wine.
And to continue the coolness of this wine you should serve it cool… not cold. Refrigerator temperature is too cold. Take the bottle out of your refrigerator for a half hour before serving, if you can wait that long. Otherwise cup your wine glass in your hands to warm it up slightly and bring out the aromas.
This is a fairly grassy-smelling sauvignon blanc. It also shows some grapefruit, lemon, peach and white pepper aromas. The palate is tangy, offering lemon, grapefruit, peach and salt. It has good acidity and a decent mouthfeel. It finishes fairly long with citrus flavors and a grassy aftertaste.
Wine: Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gran Reserva
Varieties: Sauvignon blanc
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 86
Average price: $16.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.
Find Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gran Reserva, Sauvignon Blanc with Snooth
