The Sauvignon Blanc Taste Off

The Sauvignon Blanc Taste Off – Episode #245

May 30, 2007

Gary Vaynerchuk explores these 4 Sauvignon Blancs and gives his 2 cents.

Comments on this episode(183) Leave a comment ›

“Great to see the Sauvignon Blancs. Try a blind tasting of them soon?
…” by dcpatton
“QOTD: NZ, but I need to expand to other parts of the world. Sorry abo…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
View all 183 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Coopers Creek Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Sterling Sauvignon BlancNapa Sauvignon Blanc
2006 Kingston Family Cariblanco Sauvignon BlancChilean Sauvignon Blanc
2005 Morin Sancerre Vieilles VignesSancerre Blanc

Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version.

183 Responses

Pages: « 8 7 6 5 [4] 3 2 1 » Show All

May 30, 2007

Kevin C.
I agree with many of the above posts that the QPR for California SB is not there but there are some very nice wines in the $20-$30. I feel the Duckhorn and Merry Edwards SB’s are really nice wines and implore you to try them before giving up on California SB. Perhaps you can suggest wines similar to these at a lower price point for a better value?

QOTD: USA, because I don’t know any better at this point.
May 30, 2007

flavasauce
QOTD: For me France excells in almost all wine types
May 30, 2007

Winodontist
I can’t speak french so hopefully someone can translate that last comment for me.

Gary, take episodes that didn’t go too well (Rose, Sauv. Blanc) and revisit them sometime soon with products that you have tried in advance. Sometimes you get me fired up about a particular varietal only to be let down by what you tasted. Basically you’ll sell more wine when we have products you actually liked.

QOTD: I think I have only had California, so I’m not an expert.
May 30, 2007

Jon B.
good episode QOTD… New Zealand
May 30, 2007

eugene
QOTD:

Vive la France!

You wanted political?

“Allons enfants de la Patrie
Le jour de gloire est arrivÃ© !
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L’Ã©tendard sanglant est levÃ©
Entendez-vous dans nos campagnes
Mugir ces fÃ©roces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras.
Ã‰gorger vos fils, vos compagnes!

Aux armes citoyens
Formez vos bataillons
Marchons, marchons
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons…
…. so it goes
May 30, 2007

Suzanne
Nice SB episode! (For white wine these days, I’m hardly drinking anything except Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling)
QOTD: Sancerre-Pouilly Fume.
May 30, 2007

thescrewcap
question: NZ
May 30, 2007

Tom (vtjones)
QOTD: I guess I suck. Damn!
May 30, 2007

Bossman
Can’t speak to SB’s I’m a tyro with much to explore before going down the girly man path but I did buy the Nora and sooner of later I’ll open it so I guess you’re rubbing off.

Speaking of girly men, nice shirt, do they make it in men’s?

QOTD: I suck ;(
May 30, 2007

J Crazy
QOTD: NZ Sauv. Blancs sharp enough to shave with. No, try it. I’m not joking.
May 30, 2007

CabernetNoir
One more thought…..have you ever noticed that New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs and New Zealand Chardonnays taste darn near exactly the same? I saw someone on the board mentioned Monkey Bay. Try tasting those two (Monkey Bay Sauv. Blanc & Monkey Bay Chardonnay) side by side…….you’ll be blown away.
May 30, 2007

Marc Mc
New Zealand – Gusto by Davis Family
May 30, 2007

Rick Dickulous
Chile…..Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc hands down..and no one can make me change my mind.
May 30, 2007

CabernetNoir
Weak question of the day…without a DOUBT! New Zealand dominates in the world of Sauvignon Blanc.

Good to see you pulling out the Sancerre on Sauv. Blanc day, and your letter to Cali growers is funny at best.

I’m looking forward to seeing the next 12 or so episodes as you have taped them all in a row. My bet is #12 will be most entertaining.

Have fun in Cali GV and thanks for taping some shows so we can change the wine world!
May 30, 2007

Neil
Dear GV – You may have screwed up your nose drinking too many cat pee New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs recently to truly apreciate California’s efforts and then you pull out the Sterling as a representative – while you’re at it why not 2B Chuck as well?

C’mon there are some good ones, Hartwell has a nice Sauvignon Blanc – QPR is a little on the high end. How about St. Clement, Flora Springs, Chimney Rock, Day Dream, the list goes on and on…..

Sterling! Sterling?

From the slant of my post you have to guess that I enjoy California Sauvignon Blancs. I also enjoy Sancerre. Because you trashed by beloved state I’m gonna have to go with USA/California/all/the/way on this one baby!

Sancerre-ly yours
May 30, 2007

E-Rock
QOTD = The grand old U S of A.. I’m very fond of the NO.
May 30, 2007

Harley Stan
Gary, great episode as always. I have tried several Sauv Blancs and rarely do I like them, they tend to be soapy and sour to me. A few months ago I had one from Italy. I can’t remember the exact wine or vintage from the restaurant wine list but I had to rethink Sauv Blanc again. The green grass and the melon flavors screamed from that wine, it was incredible. I will try Sauv Blanc again just in case I find a good one, next time I will write down what it is.
QOTD Italy
May 30, 2007

mas
QOTD: Toss up between France (Ch. Carbonnieux and Pessac-Leognan in general, Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre), and New Zealand (Marlborough – Matua Paretai and Cainbrae The Stones were two recent favorites). Had some nice Cali’s but they are definitely QPR challenged (Spottswoode is usually very good, Peter Michael L’Apres Midi) and would agree that the bad definitely outweigh the good, and usually nothing below $30.
May 30, 2007

TommyBoBo of WI
New Zealand!!! Kim Crawford, Cloudy Bay…… Fruity Zing-lishus.

Sauvignon Blanc ( so-vee-n’yohn blahn) All together now……
May 30, 2007

bryan
I went to a tasting last week with a lot of decent Oregon SBs, the J. Christopher Sauvignon Blanc Croft Vineyard stood out, but a lot of them were around $20. The best SBs I’ve had were all from New Zealand.
May 30, 2007

Dublin
QOTD: Sancerre is the best area for SB’s in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had some really nice NZ SB’s but some of the best SB’s thus far have been from Sancerre. I’ve only had one Sauvingnon Blanc from Napa that I’ve liked, Duckhorn.
May 30, 2007

geespot
The letter writing bit? Dying laughing. Cali does indeed blow the big one when it comes to SB. So, QOD, for QPR can’t beat those Kiwis, but I really like Sancerre when I want a very polished white wine to serve with delicate fare. Most NZ SBs can’t hold a candle, even in the ~20$ range, to the mouthfeel and integration of flavors like a good Sancerre can, IMHO. I feel that the New Zealand SBs are pushing the envelope of what the varietal can do, as far as exploring crazy flavors and textures but some are hit or miss. While Sancerre showcases the classic attributes of the varietal.
May 30, 2007

Trish da' Dish
Off topic, but–Gary, what’s going on with “Ask Wine Library TV?” It has been offline for ~a day and a 1/2 now. Your viddle? viddler? is asking for questions from us, so where do you want us to send our questions?
May 30, 2007

Clifford James
Thanks for another great episode GV.

QOTD: New Zealand

I haven’t yet thanked you, and I want to do it with a longer note, but the Sunday Mountain Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, at $8 from WL, was THE FIRST BOTTLE OF WHITE WINE THAT DARCEY AND I ACTAULLY LIKED!!!

And we REALLY liked it.

What a nice wine. What a good value.

… and we NEVER would have heard of it if it weren’t for YOU! So there! In fact, I just ordered another from WL, so … something is working for you!
I think it’s the utter honesty you bring! It MUST be hard at times for you (from your suppliers, I assume), but please don’t stop!

Be Well

Keep it up!
May 30, 2007

RuralTom
Greetings Mr V!

Question of the day: As much as I enjoy some of the Kiwi SBs, France makes the definitive sauvignon blancs.