Root:1 Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc 2006

The Casablanca Valley is the source for this outstanding blanca de la casa. The story of Root:1 is that all the fruit is grown on ungrafted vines. Phylloxera has not stricken Chile like it has France, California and most other areas of the world, so grafting onto native resistant rootstock is uncommon there. Does that make the wine more pure? Not necessarily, but it makes for good wine conversation.

A lot of us are tired of Chardonnay and some us are so bored with it that we drink it from 3 liter boxes. We want to be refreshed, reinvigorated with something new. We want something good and expressive, and we don't want to spend too much. Importer Click Wine Group has done it again with this fresh and edgy wild white that rivals the best of France for a meager price.

Excellent value ($11). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 13.1%.

Style: Tart, unoaked, green, minerally, approaching shrill.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Pale straw with a greenish tint. Aromas: Gooseberry, grapefruit, lime, with background notes of asparagus and flint. The lively tart and definitely not sweet lime rind, grassy and minerally flavors dance into the finish "as time goes by".

Comment: "You must remember this: A kiss is still a kiss".