Secano Estate Sauvignon Gris 2010

Variety: Sauvignon Gris

Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Leyda Valley
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: very pale ellow
Bouquet: expressive, lime, grass, nettle, white grapefruit
Taste: medium body,lime, fresh, zesty and lively acidity, good structure, more adult than sofisticated than Sauvignon Blanc, medium to longer finish

Overall score: 88
Price: CZK 209
Stopper: screw cap

Fantastic wine. I never had Sauvignon Gris, but this was excellent, less tropical and more grassy which I really like. I really like whites from Leyda Valley, the cool climate region in Chile. The wine is produced by Vina Leyda for M&S.

Nowadays, Leyda is an official recognized appellation. But not so long ago, this whole valley was just a land of pastures and basic crops, absolutely not suitable for viticulture. Big investments were necessary to make the dream come through. The soil and the climate were perfect, but there was not enough water. A big pipeline brought the Maipo river water to the place where vineyards were planned. In May 2002, the new Denomination of Origin Leyda was recognized. The distance between the Viña Leyda vineyards and the Pacific Ocean is very small, only 14 km. The area is blessed by a cool climate with maritime influence, cool sea breezes and moistening morning mist, maximum temperatures of 24-25°C and daily differences of 15° C between day and night… Good for a long and slow growing and ripening season. Not much rain, only 250 mm a year, and a very dry summer. The exposure to the sunlight is ideal. Thanks to a careful canopy management, every single vineyard parcel will give perfectly ripe grapes. The complexity of the Leyda wines is also due to the specific soil, softly slanting hills with compact clayish subsoil and a top-layer of loamy clay and quartz gravel. The wines produced here have a singular identity, fruit and terroir driven.