Morandé, Casablanca Valley (Chile) Sauvignon Blanc 2020

 Morandé’s Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc’s pleasantly weighty texture makes one believe that this variety can have something important to say.  In fact this feeling persists as one savors the fruit balanced in tandem with the alcohol (13.5%) and the discreet suggestions of the French oak foudres in which it was fermented (a portion of the grapes was also fermented in cement eggs).  The vineyard is free of chemical fertilizers and herbicides.  We often tend to think of Sauvignon Blanc as a light wine but here’s an example of it flexing its handsome muscle.  Citrusy and lightly floral, it is a good companion to foods including white meats, seafood and pasta.