Style Light white New World Country Chile Price $13
Vintage tasted 2009 Grapes Sauvignon Blanc
Website www.root1wine.com

Overview The folks at Root: 1 have a great hook: they can brag that unlike the vast majority of the world’s vines, theirs have ungrafted rootstock. A bit of history: in the late 19th century a plague of small aphid-like insects known as Phylloxera swept across Europe, destroying the roots of most of the grapevines. American vines were resistant, so from then onwards European varieties were grafted onto American rootstock. Some Chilean vineyards, primarily because of their sandy soils, but also because of certain quirks of climate, were unaffected and didn’t need to graft. Root: 1 is one such vineyard.

Nose Distinctly vegetal aromas are balanced by a hint of fruit.

Mouth There’s that Sauv Blanc grassiness, along with wonderfully clean acid.