The 2010 Valdivieso Sauvignon Blanc from Chile’s Central Valley, cost under $14, scored 15+ Dionysian points out of 20, and had  an ideal 12.5% alcohol.

Served with fresh Stripper fish, caught the same day off New Jersey, the wine was refreshing, clean and helped make the dish superb.

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Very drinkable on release, I wait four or five years to let the wine round out. It was at perfect peak last night with dinner. Valdivieso has never disappointed.

The citrus and mineral aromas with very subtle grapefruit notes along with a long clean finish made the wine perfect for the meal.  Chile makes Sauvignon Blanc  more in tuned with white Bordeaux than with the grassy New Zealand style and with less alcohol than Californian examples. In vino veritas.

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Dionysian Karen Goetz of Oakland, California, would have found this combination to meet her very high culinary standards. Stripper, edamame , sweet potato and salad laced with feta cheese.