Do you love New Zealand sauvignon blanc?

Well, you’ve been sorta screwed of late then.

Increasing demand, supply chain issues and a 2021 harvest where production fell about 30% short have all contributed to occasionally empty shelves at many LCBO outlets and other retailers worldwide in recent months—especially some of my personal favourites. For many that are in stock, meanwhile, prices have jumped a couple dollars or more.

If that encourages you to look elsewhere for that delightfully crisp, refreshing, aromatic white wine, Chile is a good place to start.

In fact, both of today’s wines hail from that splendid splinter of a country, each at a great price.

Casas del Bosques Sauvignon Blanc 2021 — Casablanca Valey, Chile ($15.95) 
Situated at 820 feet of elevation, just 18 kilometers from the Pacific, these vines benefit from cool ocean breezes. It’s actually one of the chillier sauvignon blanc-growing sites on the planet, accentuated even further by a particularly cloudy, cold 2021 summer. While that sucked for vacationers to the Casablanca Valley last year, it was good news for the sauvignon blanc grapes, which ripened a bit slower than usual—maintaining their usual bright acidity but still with the hang time to develop rich aromas of fresh-cut grass, green apple, bell peppers and grapefruit. This particular vineyard is also close to the family cellar, so it’s easy for them to keep a watchful eye. Great value. 89

Laura Hartwig Selección del Viticultor Block Nogales Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 — Colchagua Valley, Chile ($20.95)
Here’s a very dry, close to full-bodied cabernet. Its vines were planted in 1980 that have really hit their stride. Winemaker Renato Czischke has aged this vintage a year in French oak barrels, and then another five months in cement eggs, which has added a touch of creaminess and lessened the tannic bite. Coming up on two years since it was bottled, there’s mostly dark fruit—blackberries, plums, black cherries—on the nose, along with anise, chocolate and a dusting of menthol. Pair it with roast beef, game birds, grilled peppers and cured cheeses, the winery suggests. Totally drinkable now, but put it aside for a few years if you can, as it’s still a touch raw in its youth. There’s a decade of aging potential if you want to really cellar it. 14% alc. 90