LCBO SALE PICK OF THE WEEK: MAY 12

Errazuriz Max Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Chile)

Sale $12.95, Regular $15.95
Discount (until May. 22): $3.00
LCBO # 273342 | 750 mL bottle

Tastes like: Precision-sighted Sauvignon Blanc with gooseberry, lime, dill and mint. Wonderful ripe fruit, with savoury dried herbs and orange zest. Supple.
Pairs with: Herb-roasted white meats and zesty Latin flavours like guacamole, lime-grilled shrimp, citrus marinated pork. Veggie dishes with fresh cucumber and tomato.
Good for: Bingeing over May 24 weekend — grill up some bold and zesty flavours and go wild.
Alcohol: 13%
Drink: Now.

Why we're drinking this
Did you notice the price on this wine? Holy crap, it’s only $12.95 (on sale). Well, thank you, Chile. The grapes in this wine were planted quite recently, in 2005 and 2009, about 12 kilometres from the Pacific. That ocean bestows the warm days and cooler nights — plus some bracing ocean breezes — that Sauvignon Blanc loves. A cool slumber locks in freshness, helping to foster that classic SB kick that you either love or hate. We love it, of course. The grapes were hand-picked, fermented mostly in stainless steel, and aged for three months on their lees (the dead yeast cells post-fermentation). That lees aging contributes a lovely depth of flavour, creamy texture and harmonious nutty quality. Damn it, that’s good stuff.

Tasting note
Perfumed and lively nose of gooseberry, hay, lime, dill and grapefruit, with some not-so-subtle canned peas. Yep, that’s Sauvignon Blanc, all right. But this example is rather more complex than many New World wines in the same price range (or, indeed, in the under $25 range). This is pure brilliance in SB. It has a subtle savoury quality, some dried herbs, dill and mint. The finish is nutty, creamy and fruity. It’s balanced and long, with pretty orange notes. This is not a racy in-your-face SB — it’s certainly not all “cat’s pee and gooseberries.” Rather, it has finesse, creamy texture, and complex flavours. A very serious wine at a bargain basement price. And perfect for warmer weather — this should be your May 24 party wine. Break out the guacamole, lime-marinated shrimp skewers, herbed pork and cherry tomato salad. Fresh, fresh, fresh!

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This week's selection by kwäf Taste Bud Dick Snyder