Review: Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc – 2019 Windy Ridge and 2021 Estate
Chalk Hill‘s summer 2023 sauvignon blanc wines have arrived, and we received a pair of them for review. Thoughts follow.
2019 Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc Windy Ridge – Boldly tropical, one could easily mistake this for a high-end New Zealand sauvignon blanc, brisk with pineapple, lemon/lime, and a gentle mineral quality. Sweeter perhaps than it needs to be as the finish builds — which washes away some needed acidity — the wine lets its tropical qualities linger well into the fruit-heavy finish.
2021 Chalk Hill Estate Sauvignon Blanc – This is the standard bottling of Chalk Hill’s sauvignon blanc, and for 2021 it’s a balanced expression that threads the needle between tropical and grassy elements, all driven with a mineral-heavy backdrop. Apple, lemon, and guava notes are all well represented, the finish treading into more doughy coconut territory. Not as vibrant as the Windy Ridge expression, but quite charming and versatile.
