Wine of the Week: bad luck, black cat

The $5 bargain bin – the no man’s land of bottles that sit between the register and the exit just yearning to be picked up by customers in a rush, maybe begrudgingly bringing the wine to dinner at the in-laws, or just looking for a cheap thrill. The wine bargain bin is a hit or miss kind of place, but it’s good to take a risk every once in awhile. As a current resident of said bargain bin, Gato Negro, Sauvignon Blanc, came home with me one evening – was it worth the risk?

This bargain selection is a wonderful wine to share, because it is not a wine of which you would want to drink more than one glass; just pass the bottle until it’s empty. Gato Negro hails from Chile somewhere in some valley on the edge of the Andes Mountains. The winery has been producing since the 1960’s but only in the past 15 years have any of their products been exported to the United States. Currently, Gato Negro distributes its wines to over 80 countries and offers a wide selection, including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Carmenere, Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Malbec.

The Gato Negro, Sauvignon Blanc, has a nose that is slightly floral and introduces hints of tropical fruits as well as a slight, commercially manufactured scent of fermentation that is entirely distinct from the subtle airs of age that other, finer, wines harbor, and that seems to come along with many commercially produced wines. The first sip of the Sauvignon Blanc is gentle and consistent with its tropical sweet fruit scent. It finishes, as most Sauvignon Blancs do, with a slight buzz, but this one is not unlike that of a liquefied nine-volt battery (side note: this reviewer is already not a fan of the Sauvignon Blanc variety, so this review could be slightly skewed). Besides its surprising finish, its flavor is better than expected from a bottle that nearly costs less than a gallon of good milk. Nevertheless, one glass does suffice, as the second tends to develop into a lollipop-like coating on the throat. Pair this wine with creamy cheeses, light pastas, or grilled chicken dishes, or just use it to make a batch of risotto.

This Chilean Sauvignon Blanc retails for $4.99 and is a great cooking wine or gift for the in-laws that you wish would visit less often. It is, otherwise, not a purchase that needs to be repeated, but it did, at least, leave a lasting impression.