South American whites: a new era

World-class Chardonnay made not far from the Pacific coast using fruit sourced from small plots grown on slate (‘las pizarras’ in Spanish). The wine combines exuberance of fruit including white peaches and star fruit, with hazelnuts, praline, dried fruits, toast and sweet spices. On the palate it is dry, beautifully balanced with a sophisticated, creamy texture and underlying tension. The finish is persistent and includes well-judged oaky notes and wonderful savoury complexity.

A wine made with passion and precision, sourced from 27 rows of a 2.5ha plot, established on poor rocky soil located at 1,450m in Gualtallary. Ethereal, mysterious and elegant, including aromas of ripe yellow fruits, orange peel, butterscotch, fresh dough and mineral notes. On the palate it displays mouthwatering freshness; taut with savoury complexity and hints of sweet spices resulting from skilful use of oak. A classy wine with a broad creamy texture and reminiscent of white Burgundy.

A rich and powerful white wine that displays a weight and density akin to a red wine. After five days on skins and co-fermentation between Marsanne (93%) and Viognier (7%) it displays subtle and sophisticated notes of ripe yellow fruits, hazelnuts, honeysuckle and almonds. On the palate it has weight, density and a creamy texture, as well as savoury complexity and well-judged oak. The alcohol level is noticeably high at 14.5% but it has wonderful freshness to ensure harmony.

Aromas are refined, subtle and seductive, including stone fruits, fresh dough, citrus fruits, floral notes and a hint of spice. On the palate it has incredible freshness and excellent concentration allied with well-judged oak, spending a few months in 2,000-litre foudres to gain weight and texture, without imparting overt oaky flavour. Refined and well integrated, boasting excellent purity of fruit. This is a wine that in 10 years’ time will not only be drinking magnificently, but will also be credited for contributing to the variety’s revival in South America.

Grapes for this wine are sourced from vineyards planted at 1,400m in San Pablo, Uco Valley. On the nose it displays refined aromas of citrus fruits, melons, star fruit, fresh dough, wild flowers and a hint of spice. There is a sense of Burgundian elegance to this wine. It is not exuberant, but subtle and precise. On the palate it is dry, displaying good tension and freshness, a creamy texture and a sophisticated finish.

This sensational wine is made with fruit from a dry-farmed vineyard planted in the 1940s. Grapes were hand-picked, whole bunch pressed and aged in French oak for 12 months. It oozes class. Pure and precise with notes of citrus fruits, orange blossom, wet hay, green chillies, slate and fresh dough, as well as a hint of nuttiness. On the palate it is dry, displaying beautiful freshness, a sophisticated texture and exceptionally well-judged oak. Perfect for enjoying now and will age gracefully.

Grapes for this wine were meticulously sourced from 239 vines that were planted over 70 years ago, using the traditional parral system (pergola). Intense and attractively perfumed, including notes of white roses, lime zest, lychees, jasmine and grapey aromas. On the palate it is dry with exceptional concentration of fruit and a wonderful balancing freshness. Despite its richness and power, as well as 14% alcohol, it is harmonious. This is an outstanding example of Torrontés.

The name of the wine illustrates Aurelio Montes’ desire to push the boundaries of viticulture in Chile. This vineyard, located on the Zapallar coast, only 7km from the ocean, offers pure, precise and intense aromas of mango, passion fruit, asparagus, grapefruit, green peas and pomegranate. On the palate it combines exuberance of fruit with a refined texture and a wonderfully long finish that's packed with tropical fruits.

This single vineyard located on west facing slopes receives abundant cool breezes from the ocean, which contributes to its pungent aromas of freshly cut green peppers, asparagus, grapefruit, lime, tropical and grassy notes. On the palate it displays lovely texture and good concentration of fruit underpinned by racy acidity.

The Pizzato family is responsible for some of the Brazil’s best wines. Semillon is a surprising, albeit welcome, addition to their range. Fruit is sourced from a vineyard planted in 2012 and the wine is made with great care and attention. It displays enticing and complex aromas of citrus and ripe yellow fruits, wild flowers, nutty notes and sweet spices. The palate is harmonious with balancing freshness, good concentration of beautifully ripe yellow fruits, nuts and savoury complexity.

A creative blend of equal parts of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Torrontés using fruit from Finca La Delfina in Altamira. It results in an uplifting and fragrant bouquet of elderflower, dill, green tea, citrus fruits and grapey aromas. The wine spends four months in French oak barrels (60% new and 40% used) to gain texture and complexity. On the palate it is dry, with assertive acidity, a beautiful texture and a pleasant, persistent and refreshing finish.

An unusual style of Sauvignon Blanc from an exotic place. Fruit for this Sauvignon comes from Finca Altura Máxima located at 3,000m. It is forward, expressive and displays intense aromas of green peas, ripe yellow fruits, passion fruit, star fruit, basil and cut grass. On the palate it is exuberant, exotic and powerful, whilst underpinned by lively acidity to ensure overall harmony.

Made from a small, low yielding parcel established on a hillside in the Coastal mountain range, only 20km from the sea. It is attractively scented with aromas of ripe stone fruits, citrus zest, tropical fruits, white flowers, bay leaves and sweet spices, derived from well-judged oak. On the palate it is dry with balanced acidity, a creamy texture and a persistent, refreshing and complex finish.

Vivacious and inviting aromas of green peas, passion fruit, hay, pink grapefruit, tropical fruits, white pepper and floral notes. Morning fog and ocean breezes ensure that the wine retains wonderful freshness on the palate and helps to balance its exuberant flavours. The wine is dry, displays a creamy texture and a wonderful persistent finish.

Matías Riccitelli shows creativity with his blend of 20% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon that is fermented and aged in concrete eggs for eight months. The wine is defined and focused, with notes of citrus fruits, yellow plums, fresh dough and mineral notes. Dry, laser-sharp freshness, great purity and elegance. This wine is all about freshness and subtlety.

This wine originates in from El Granito vineyard, planted in 2010 in the Leyda Valley, a stone's throw from the Pacific Ocean. Vibrant and attractive golden colour. On the nose it exudes aromas of ripe yellow fruits, citrus zest, hut cross buns, brioche and hints of butterscotch, as well as toasty oak and nutty notes. Traditional, broad and creamy style of Chardonnay, however balancing acidity enables the wine to retain a sense of harmony.

A wonderful example of Torrontés from high altitude vineyards (1,700m) in Salta. It exhibits a pale straw colour with a golden hue. Aromas are vibrant and youthful including rose petals, grapefruit, lychees and a hint of ginger spice. On the palate it is intense, forward and expressive, underpinned by balancing freshness. Alcohol at 13.5% is warm but well integrated.

Susana Balbo understands Torrontés better than most and is brave enough to try new things. This is a barrel fermented and aged Torrontés made with grapes sourced from Altamira, in Uco Valley. It is fragrant and attractive, displaying notes of elderflower, white pears and wild flowers as well as a hint of vanilla and sweet spices. On the palate it is well-structured, showing excellent varietal character, personality and impressive ability to maintain its freshness.

A solid wine from an ambitious project in the district of Maldonado on southern Uruguay's Atlantic coast. The wine is youthful and displays pure and precise aromas including grapefruit, peach, apples, fresh dough, gentle floral and a hint of minerality. Dry, balancing acidity, silky texture, moderate concentration and an attractive savoury edge, as well as hint of bitterness on the finish that is typical of Albariño.

This is not your usual pungent and fruit-forward style of Sauvignon, but instead shows real depth and finesse. It displays refined aromas of citrus fruits, elderflower, green peas, kiwi, lemongrass and fine herbs. On the palate it is dry with balancing acidity, a subtle oily character, creamy texture and remarkable concentration of fruit.

‘Fous’, which is the French word for 'crazy’, is the word outsiders used to describe this project’s philosophy, which revolves around crossing traditional boundaries of viticulture. This is an intriguing and cerebral wine that requires contemplation. Its aromas include lime zest and ripe yellow fruits, as well as oily and waxy notes. On the palate it has great concentration, a creamy texture and balancing freshness, with elegant, savoury and nutty complexity as it evolves in the glass.

Very interesting wine from a tropical climate, that is achieved by double pruning vines to invert the growing cycle, thus allowing grapes to be picked in the autumn. This is a Sauvignon Blanc driven blend (83%) with a touch of Viognier (4%) and Chardonnay (13%) grown in high altitude (around 900m) in the northern part of the São Paulo Estate. It displays elegant and subtle aromas of elderflower, stone fruits, passion fruit, pears and lemongrass. On the palate it is sophisticated and harmonious, with balancing freshness.

Salvaje' means 'wild' and relates to the way that these vines are grown freely within the natural flora. Vines grow up on the trees and must be picked by climbing wooden ladders 5m high. The wine displays a pale lemon colour and a hint of pink. It is youthful, delicate and attractive with notes of green apples, citrus fruits, pear and fresh dough. This is a low alcohol (12%), lean, austere wine with a hint of bitterness. It is crunchy, refreshing and has real personality.

Great value organic wine displaying great varietal definition. It is youthful and attractively fragrant, with aromas of citrus zest, lychees, honeysuckle and floral notes. On the palate it is dry, with balancing freshness and a delicate bitter edge on the finish, typical of Torrontés

A well-made example of Riesling from the Italian maestro, Giorgio Flessati. It exhibits a pale straw colour. On the nose it displays citrus fruits, fresh herbs, hints of stone fruits and fresh dough. On the palate it seems off-dry with attractive, refreshing acidity, a pleasant texture and harmonious finish.

Youthful and attractive notes of citrus fruits, pineapple, melon, peaches, fresh dough and wild flowers. Dry and harmonious with a pleasant creamy texture, medium weight and refreshing finish. Overall it is a restrained and elegant, pure and precise style of Chardonnay.

This is an edgy wine and full of personality. It displays a pale straw colour. The nose it is dominated by pronounced and distinct aromas of citrus fruits, fresh dough, flint and mineral notes. On the palate it is dry, crisp and austere. It has good texture, moderate alcohol and an oily touch. It does not shout Sauvignon Blanc but offers a very distinct, lean style.

A blend of 60% Semillon and 40% Chenin Blanc made with fruit sourced from Lujan de Cuyo. It is youthful and intensely aromatic, displaying lively aromas of ripe yellow fruits, grapefruit, vanilla, sweet spices and nutty notes. On the palate it is dry, rich and buttery with a creamy texture, intense yellow fruit flavours and overt oaky notes.

Grapes were sourced from four different vineyards varying in altitude from 950m to 1,450m. A style of wine that will please wine drinkers who favour exuberant fruit flavours and oaky notes. Aromas are youthful and attractive with notes of ripe yellow fruits and sweet spices. On the palate it is dry with balancing freshness and a pleasant texture, displaying oaky as well as nutty notes, that helps to add complexity.