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
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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

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183 Responses

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May 31, 2007

Paul M.
Actually, the only decent California SB that I’ve had is the Mondavi Fume Blanc. Crisp, sweet, acidic…not too bad.
May 31, 2007

Iron Man
QOTD: the only I drink SB is when I use it for steamed mussels or making risotto.
May 31, 2007

Tom T.
Gary,

So far I have not tried too many SB’s but I do like the New Zealand wines a lot. Will have to give the Kingston Family a try. Thanks (and nice shirt!).

Tom
May 31, 2007

Metal Dave
QOTD: France.

Dude, I actually really liked the 2005 Morin Sancerre. I didn’t have the Veille Vignes, but the regular one. It’s one of my favourites.

I’d love to see you taste a range of wines from Didier Dagueneau. How about the “Blanc Fume de Pouilly,” the “Pur Sang,” and the “Buisson Renard.” THAT would be a great Sauvignon Blanc Episode.

You could even show some pictures of him cause he looks so wild. Jancis Robinson did an interview with him on her Wine Course DVD where he slammed 80% of winemakers as idiots. I think he’s really cool and is the epitome of what a winemaker should be.
May 31, 2007

Paul M.
The Brancott Sauvignon Blanc or even Dyed in the Wool is better than these.

It’s too bad you had a “bad bunch” of SB’s because it is my favorite wine to drink in the warmer weather.

Paul M.
Seymour, CT
May 31, 2007

Kelldey
Another great ep! The Cali letter was priceless.

QOTD: I suck. Haven’t tried any SBs, but will try some based on suggestions from other posters.

Thanks for all you do and have a great time in San Fran! Any chance you’ll EVER make it to OK (I’d even travel to TX, KS, MO or AR)? I’ll probably just have to look you up the next time I’m in the NYC area!
K
May 31, 2007

Robert F
You should seriously send that letter to someone. Or maybe just buy all the SB yourself and tear it up.

QOTD: I’d have a tough time choosing between France and NZ. Depends on whether I want to munch on grass or suck on wet rocks.
May 31, 2007

Eags
Fav Country for Sav Blanc: France and New Zealand for value
May 31, 2007

JJ
Sauv Blanc is my favorite white -chard is p*&^ss. I really like most NZ Sauv Blancs and agree CA needs to rip them out.

NZ has numerous SBs superior to what you tasted today – you might do a NZ only show
May 31, 2007

thkorent
QOTD: I have more than 1 answer here: the best I’ve tasted overall, was the 06 cloudy bay from New Zealand. The most intriguing one was an 05 Terrunyo from Concha y Toro, Chile and QPR wise there are Austrian and South African Sauvs that deliver better than Marlborough for me…
May 31, 2007

lifestooshort
Mightta gone with the 10 buck New Haven 2006 from NZ? Big, citrusy nose. Bright star fruit and lime flavors with grass and cat pee (it’s weird, but true); clean, smooth, long finish–great for the uber hot weather coming up. Awesome episode for GV hijinks–especially the teacher upbrading! (Selling candy; classic…) Some neighbors “popped” a box of Almaden white “wine” last weekend. It actually tasted like bug spray with a finish of DDT. Unreal. What are people thinking? I gave them a bottle of Conundrum–big mistake. QOTD: NZ. But that could change tomorrow (like my faves change every week).
May 31, 2007

Susan
Gary-
Great Ep!!
Love the energy!!!
Glad you are legal to go back to CA!!
May 31, 2007

cali6buff
QOTD: Marlborough all the way.

With the notes on the Mahi Sauvignon Blanc, I was shocked you didn’t taste it for us.
May 31, 2007

Fishamble
QOTD: Reluctant to choose between Loire and New Zealand.

I take it none of the ones you tried in this episode were oaked to any extent? I think that Sav Blanc can benefit from subtle oaking, would be interested to know what you think yourself.
May 31, 2007

Elliot Essman
I agree with many of the comments about New Zealand first, Chile second.

California has problems with this grape, but that said, I did enjoy the 2005 St. SupÃ©ry Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc I had by the glass a few months ago at California Pizza Kitchen.

The pizza was goat cheese and roasted peppers, also a success.
May 31, 2007

Jameus
Good Episode GV! Great idea to grab each one from a different country too. I could see that working for quite a few wine types and would be interested in the results

QOTD: well… apparently I suck I haven’t tried a Sav. Blanc yet. I will however seek one out and give it an unbiased attempt. I’m just now starting into exploring whites and really haven’t had all that many. I had a Petit chablis lastnight and it was awsome! A truckload of pucker-power dryness hit me!
May 31, 2007

Jimmy B
QOTD: Guess I suck, but then again it seems you didn’t have much luck either with only 1 getting kudos? But you have tasted – I have not. I plan to remedy that pronto.
May 31, 2007

Tom L
QOTD Answer: New Zealand

Ask WLTV is down, so I’ll ask the question here – when are we going to do the HEAT episode, GV???? I picked up a couple cases at WL yesterday over the lunch hour. They sat in my car all afternoon and the temp went up to 90 degrees. I’m not really worried about a couple hours (cases sit in trucks for hours all the time), but teach us wine newbees what we have to be careful of when it comes to wine and heat, OK?
May 31, 2007

Medo
Nice show Gary! Chile is realy getting to the max in Sauvignon Blanc, especially from Casablanca / Leyda Valley like the Montes Sauvignon Blanc Limited Selection.

QOTD: New Zealand!
May 31, 2007

Panoca
Great episode! Sauvignon blanc is my favorite white wine, both for sipping and with food. I think New Zeland is unbeatable, for price, bouquet and taste. Second place goes to Chile.
Thanks Gary!
May 31, 2007

Oregon Jim
I have had a few NZ SBs that were quite good. Dog Point has not been mentioned, but is an excellent Marlborough producer. 2006 Kim Crawford is like biting into a lemon, very intense acidity!

QOTD NZ is what I know, but I’m sure the French are superior (at least in their own minds)
May 31, 2007

Fco.
Cool show. Made notes where notes were needed and I do not know enough to answer the QOTD. But I am curious, I drank a Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc and loved it…wondering what you think of it. oh…hell what am I doing? the archive….the archive!
May 31, 2007

r3dwine
My fav Sauv Blanc? France. I almost don’t think of Loire whites in the same category as Sauv Blanc from US or anywhere else. And I like CA Sauvignon Blanc also – I’ll just say it.
May 31, 2007

Jim Wilkerson
More than half of my white wine consumption is SB. Agree that most from California is disappointing and bad on QPR, but there are some good ones — the Vaynernation has named several. Some of the better ones I’ve tried are from Groth, Ferrari-Carano, Dry Creek Vineyards.

Having said all that…
QOTD: close call, but I’ll go with NZ for the QPR and availability. I can choose from 5 or 6 nice NZ SBs on my weekly grocery shopping trips, while they have zero-zip-zilch Sancerre.

My house white for a while last year was Oxford Landing SB from Australia ($7). Certainly not profound, but pitch-perfect, clean, crisp everyday white.
May 31, 2007

Justin S
My .02; Why is everyone in such a hurry? Slow down!

QOTD:For crispness and food France
For drinking on a hot summers day New Zealand