That's one of those skills that I learned in my school...

Underwhelmed.

That's how I felt about a few whites I had from South America. There was a bright spot, but no one's reinventing the wheel here:

Norton Sauvignon Blanc, Mendoza, Argentina, 2006: 6.3

Sauvignon Blanc is continuously a disappointment if it says Argentina or Chile on the label. I don't know when they're going to start competing with New Zealand and California as far as the ol' quality/dollar ratio matters. The Norton felt a bit fat oddly. There was a little okay citrus, something like lemon. But then a whole lot of...nothing. But then my tongue was hit by just...oh...what is that? Ohhhh. Alcohol. Drinkable sure. But there's stuff out there that just destroys this SB for the money. ($9-11)

Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc, Colchagua, Chile, 2007: 7.4

There's a name on this bottle that should probably catch the attention of a few people: Lafite-Rothschild. So one of the leading Bordelaise families has been hard at work in the land west of the Andes, trying to go for the under $20 price-point. This ain't a bad wine, I'll say. But it *is* average. The trick is to not even think about the incredibly diverse range of styles that Sauvignon Blanc imparts and creates, depending on where it's grown.

See, there's some well-balanced grapefruit, sea salt, and sourdough on the nose. And it's surely a friendly, fruity dry wine. And while it will never compare to the concentrated-citrus style of Marlborough, where the bottle practically sweats out lemon drops, Los Vascos' Sauvignon Blanc is a little more where the Chilean variety should be: easy, lively, balanced. ($12-15)

Dona Paula Chardonnay, Mendoza, Argentina, 2006: 7.7

Oaky and buttery. Like a newly-constructed teeter-totter after a good rain. Spice, green pear, and more oak. And then more. But actually, it's kind of enjoyable in it's own unabashedness. The finish was slightly unimpressive. I'd drink a glass of this once in a blue moon though. ($16-20).

-Justin