Casa Silva Reserva Chardonnay 2010

Although Casa Silva is best known for its iconic Carmenère, there is no doubt that Casa Silva now demonstrates equal acumen when it comes to producing white wines, as Casa Silva’s 2010 Reserva Chardonnay will attest. The attraction to this Mâcon style Chardonnay begins in the glass with the wine’s brilliant, sunshiny robe. It follows up its obvious visual appeal with a fresh and enchanting bouquet of apple, white peach, coconut, and a hint of spice. On the palate, it charms with its pure fruit flavors, subtle spice, and supreme balance – not unlike first rate Pouilly-Fuissé. No smoke and mirrors here! In other words, you won’t have to fight your way through layers of toasted oak to find the wine. With Casa Silva’s Reserva Chardonnay, one tastes the true varietal character of Chardonnay and experiences the unique terroir of Colchagua. Like Casa Silva’s red wines, it strikes a perfect chord that combines flavor and finesse. Enjoy this impressive, easy to drink Chardonnay cool or moderately chilled (35º- 45º F).

Casa Silva’s 2010 Reserva Chardonnay makes for a wonderful aperitif as it is both ebullient and easy to drink. Yet, it will shine at the table in the company of seafood, salads, canapés, poultry, and light pastas. Whether you are looking to spruce up a mid week meal or throw an elegant dinner party, Casa Silva’s Reserva Chardonnay has a role to play. Seared sea scallops, served with avocado and kiwi salsa; spit roasted chicken with a side of butternut squash risotto; and sautéed oysters offer time honored accompaniments to this elegant, flavorful Chardonnay. Maryland-style crab cakes, grilled trout, fresh shrimp and vegetable rolls, and chicken salads with walnuts, grapes, and rosemary offer other winning dishes to serve with Casa Silva’s Reserva Chardonnay. In addition, almost any light to medium flavored cow’s milk cheese (Colby, Edam, Gouda, Munster, and Port Salut to name a few) and a loaf of crispy French bread provide plenty of companionship. Moreover, Casa Silva’s charming, easygoing style gives it versatility, so most foods that are not highly spiced or packed with heat will gladly complement it. Besides, one need not be Julia Child to come up with a winning accompaniment to this wine. Enjoy!

Casa Silva continues to astound with the quality as well as the variety of the wines it produces. It was recently named Wine and Spirits Winery of the Year - testimony to the Silva family’s dedication to quality and winemaker Mario Geise’s unabashed ability to push the envelope. Casa Silva is one of just a handfull of South America’s finest wine estates.

Located some two hundred kilometers south of Santiago, in the heart of Colchagua, an area many are now calling Chile’s Napa Valley, Casa Silva has garnered more recognition and awards at international wine competitions than any other Chilean winery. Furthermore, Catad’Or Hyatt, Chile’s most prestigious wine competition, has named Casa Silva “the Best Chilean Producer” three consecutive times. And that’s not all, the International Wine & Spirit Competition recently named Casa Silva as “The best South American Producer.” Kudos to the Silva family, father Mario and sons Mario Pablo, Gonzalo, and Francisco. Along with Mario Geise, the winery’s outstanding consulting enologist, the Silva family has taken this beautiful property, which sits at the base of the towering Andes, to lofty heights in little more than a dozen years.

Surprisingly, Casa Silva’s present inception dates back to only 1997, the year this estate began bottling premium wines under its own name. However, historical accounts tell us that the Silva family’s predecessors were pioneers in Colchagua more than a century earlier, when the Silvas brought the first grape varieties from France to their Angostura vineyards, which still occupy the lower slopes of the Cordillera of the Andes that soar above the property. Today, the Silvas remain pioneers: they are Colchagua’s foremost experts on Carmenère, Chile’s emblematic red grape variety. In addition, they produce some of South America’s most compelling Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Gris, and Viognier. Casa Silva is also in the vanguard of South America’s success with other traditional Bordeaux grape varieties, most notably Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon. With such accomplishments to their credit, can there be any doubt as to why the wines of Casa Silva are the most highly acclaimed in South America?