Style Heavy white New World Country Chile Price $10
Vintage tasted 2009 Grapes Chardonnay
Website www.santaema.cl

Overview Chile, like Argentina, is thought of by many bargain-conscious consumers as an “it” region. It makes sense that wines coming from South America would be cheaper than their counterparts in California; land costs less, as does labor, among other things. And as far as Chardonnay goes, the Casablanca Valley is a cool climate, ensuring that the wines aren’t big, knock-you-over-the-head specimens. See—the stars have aligned to produce cheap Chards like this one.

Nose With tons of mineral and definite oak, this wine has a few of the Chardonnay bases covered.

Mouth More oak, but it’s not overpowering. Some of our blind tasters also detected a slight prickle.