New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Marathon! – Episode #390

January 21, 2008

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Gary gets serious and goes through a bunch of NZ sauv blancs!

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Comments on this episode(219) Post a comment ›

  • “QOTD: I havent had enough to really answer that, but I did have a Vil…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
  • “Best SB I had while I was in NZ (and I had quite a few) was Mount Rile…” by Charlie
  • View all 219 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Arona Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc play review at cork'd
2006 Tohu Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc play review at cork'd
2007 New Harbor Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc play review at cork'd
2007 Chasing Venus Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc play review at cork'd
2006 Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc IconNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc play review at cork'd
2006 Discovery Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc play review at cork'd
2007 Kim Crawford Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc play review at cork'd
  • Dessert Wine Nerd
    QOTD: I havent had enough to really answer that, but I did have a Villa Maria a while back that while not impressive, was still a decent wine. I also had a Kim Crawford which was pretty decent as well, so I will def. be buying more in the future. Not scared of the cat pee!!!!
  • Charlie
    Best SB I had while I was in NZ (and I had quite a few) was Mount Riley.

    I'm with you on the Kim Crawford, it's not worth the price.
  • QOTD: I've not had any really great SB's, but I will look for the Chasing Venus.
  • Claus
    QOTD: Babich, 05 or 06 (don't remember). Great classic NZ SB.

    Speaking of, I'm heading to NZ for the first time in April, can't wait!
  • Dan
    Great episode...but you GOTTA get a better grasp of the proper pronunciations of those Maori names..
  • QOTD: I have yet to try one! Gotta get myself moving...

    Good episode. I'm impressed at your ability to so thoroughly treat SEVEN wines in 20 minutes. Craaaazy. Or just radool.
  • CollegeFootballisNumberOne
    QOTD: Easily and by a mile the Craggy Range SB. Undeniable NZ fruit but it has great body to go with the stones, veggies, and earth flavors. World Class!
  • Bobby
    Would have been nice compare areas outside of Marlborough (Hawkes Bay or Martinborough) since I've found better wines there.
    QTOD: Mahi 2007 SB
  • Tommy Vernieri
    It's been a while since I've answered a question of the day, I'm behind, Gary.

    QOTD: I think it's the Brancott 2006, though I've only had a handful and I'm not a big fan overall. The gassiness and the sharpness is too much for me.
  • QOTD: ATA RANGI S/B 2006 & ALLAN SCOTT S/B 2005
  • Mr.Ambassador
    I really enjoy the flavors and crisp "zing" that New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc brings to the table. For the past year I've been sipping and sampling just about every new label I've seen from Marlborough and haven't experienced many disappointments (QPR is about the only thing I've been upset with on occasion).

    I was so taken with NZSB that I began sampling many more varietals looking for similar "crisp whites" and have now added many new favorites to the shelves; really superb food-wines. *Not from this region, but one of the intriguing surprises I found during my tastings was the Greek Boutari Moschofilero White...

    QOTD - I've enjoyed the Dog Point very much. For sheer value one of the outlet stores here in western Washington was selling Marlborough "Zed" Sauvignon Blanc at $4.99 a bottle (it's a solid wine and a super-sipper at that price)!
  • wannaBconnoisseur
    LOVE the NZ SB!!

    Q-Drylands, great value, my go to NZ SB.
  • Josh in Burgundy
    QOTD: I am going to go out on a limb and say it will be the next one I taste. Hopefully
  • Paul M
    QOTD: its a tie between the 05 Vavasour and the 05 Kennedy Point
  • Dan-o
    I hate to sound so "main stream", but I had a Cloudy Bay from either the 2003 or 2004 vintage that I thought was extremely good. I drink Babich and Kim Crawford from time to time. Nice summer wine!
  • JayZee
    QOTD: I can't say that I have a fave from New Zealand for Sauvignon Blanc. I guess I'll just have to try some more of them and see. :-)
  • Big Nick
    Nice show GV......long week at work so I am catching up. Never had a NZ SB, but will definitely have to give them some consideration. Thanks for the show.
  • NADINE ANTOUN
    Hummm, I don't think I ever had a New Zealand Sauvignon blanc, but if I don't now after this show, I will get a beating, lmao
  • Scott F
    QOTD: I just had the 06 Kim Crawford this week and loved it. My wife only drinks white wines (which erks me), and I got this for her. I ended up liking it so much that I had to have a few glasses too.
  • Susan
    GARY: QOTD: Love Sauv. Blancs !!!!! My favs are from New Zealand!!! :)
  • Will Ska
    I mentioned the Davis Family Vineyards "Gusto: earlier, But I need to add how much I enjoy the Craggy Range SB, too. I bet you have that at the store!
  • MH
    P.S. To all those who said oyster bay was their fav. No one in NZ drinks oyster bay. Or at least anyone with taste buds.
  • MH
    Cloudy Bay Sauv is king. My personal favourites are Highfield, Dog Point, and Cape Campbell. 07 Sauv will be amazing. So watch out!
  • Ryan
    Daniel Schuster SB, no idea of the price, had it at the winery a year ago.
  • Pastafari Pirate
    QOTD: Haven't tried very many, but at the $12 range (which captures 90% of the wines I buy), the Monkey Bay SB was impressive.
  • Pastafari Pirate
    QOTD: Haven't tried very many, but at the
  • Jo De Fazio
    Hi there, the Tohu SB does not have a high RS, 4g/l which is still dry. The acidity is soft which might give you the wrong impression of the wine.

    Best wishes
    Jo
    Marketing coordinator
    Tohu Wines
  • Aaron
    I really like the Kim Crawford, the 06 or 05. Haven't had the 07 yet.
  • chenrys
    Enjoyed your descriptions, as usual.

    QOTD: Never had it.
  • Tom L
    QOTD: My favorite (from a QPR standpoint)sb was the Sunday Mountain with the weird label that you reviewed in 2007. I drank it all summer until WL ran out of it and I couldn't find it anywhere else. It was GREAT.
  • Vine22
    Love Sauvignon Blanc...the single best expression of terroir, period. Definitely the Drylands. The Crossings is pretty good as well. Crawford and Cloudy Bay are decent but there are soo many undiscovered gems out there...Vavasour, etc.
  • Erica37
    I'm a stranger to the New Zealand Sauv Blanc! Will have to peep out the local selection and let you know.
  • How. . . can you compare the girl next door to a Super Model? That made no sense. Saying everyone wants to marry the girl next door, but then she is forgettable? HUH? Super models are a figment of the imagination - the girl next door at least is real and knows you exist.

    QOTD: I just started drinking SB last year and have not yet found a NZ SB in Eastern WA. . . sad. Maybe when I'm in CALI next week. . .
  • DC7
    Matua
  • Derek
    Great EP Gary, top 15.

    QOTD: I like oyster Bay
  • Derek
    Great EP Gary, top 15!!!

    QOTH: I like oaster Bay
  • Jools B
    QOTD: I really like the Seresin SB - all organic and turning biodynamic. 10% of the wine is oaked before bottling, which Gary might not like but it works for me. They also do a SB dessert wine, which I haven't found in the UK yet. (www.seresin.co.nz). They also produce lovely olive oil
  • Billy Mac
    I have to go with the 2006 Drylands Sauvignon Blanc.
  • Sharon
    Hi Gary!, what a coincidence, I just opened a Matua Valley Marlborough SB last night. It's really got an interesting nose - very crisp, and pretty grassy. Freshly mown. I suppose it smells like gooseberry (AKA goosenberry ;-) ), but I don't really know what that smells like. Where the heck does one smell gooseberries?
    P-A-T-S 4-Eva
  • pforty
    QOTD: Only had the Kim Crawford. Until today!! Going out to get some of the others now!!
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