NEW WORLD: Sauvignon Blanc, Chile
2018 Gold 2 Silver 3 Bronze 7 Commended 7
2017 Gold 1 Silver 5 Bronze 6 Commended 9
It’s hard to find sommeliers who are excited about Sauvignon Blanc in general, so flights of Chilean Sauvignon tend not to be greeted with shouts of joy in this competition. On the plus side, Leyda seems to be establishing itself alongside Casablanca as a force to be reckoned with (and with a more distinctive style) and the pricing was good. So if you’re looking for crowd-pleasing styles of Sav at margin-enticing prices, this is a good place to come.
FROM THE TASTING TEAMS
‘Leyda was far better than Casablanca. The latter tasted like they were more made to a price. Leyda won on acidity and freshness, that cooler climate coming through.’ Tom Forrest, team leader
‘A diversity of styles from the New World to more Old World in style. Mostly towards the middle and low end of the price spectrum, it’s good if you’re looking for value.’ Pierre Brunelli, L’Enclume
‘There’s still some good value, classically Chilean Sauvignon Blanc wines out there – vibrant, fruit-driven, crowd-pleasing wine that works well by the glass at a certain price point.’ Laura Rhys MS, team leader
‘Leyda was grassy and herbaceous, not too pungent, nicely restrained, very fresh.’ Alex Pitt, Typing Room