Highly Rated Chilean Sauvignon Blancs

Chile's best producers have increasing being increasing their plantings of sauvignon blanc incooler sites, often close to the Pacific Ocean. In the past, sauvignon blanc was often planted alongside cabernet sauvignon and other red varieties in areas that were, frankly, ill-suited for the variety. Sauvignon blanc expresses itself best when planted on stony soils in cool, even cold areas. Regions such as Chile's Bio Bio Valley, San Antonio Valley and Leyda are proving to be capable of producing truly profound examples of sauvignon blanc and are worth exploring by those suffering sticker shock over current Loire Valley prices. I find the wines to be a hypothetical blend of the qualities of white Bordeaux, the Loire Valley and the cool New World versions from New Zealand and South Africa. In most cases these are wines to drink within a year or two of release, so don't lose them in your cellar.