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) Leave 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

219 Responses

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  1. January 23, 2008

    Pastafari Pirate

    QOTD: Haven’t tried very many, but at the

  2. January 23, 2008

    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

  3. January 23, 2008

    Aaron

    I really like the Kim Crawford, the 06 or 05. Haven’t had the 07 yet.

  4. January 23, 2008

    chenrys

    Enjoyed your descriptions, as usual.

    QOTD: Never had it.

  5. January 23, 2008

    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.

  6. January 23, 2008

    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.

  7. January 23, 2008

    Erica37

    I’m a stranger to the New Zealand Sauv Blanc! Will have to peep out the local selection and let you know.

  8. January 23, 2008

    Linderelli

    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. . .

  9. January 23, 2008

    DC7

    Matua

  10. January 23, 2008

    Derek

    Great EP Gary, top 15.

    QOTD: I like oyster Bay

  11. January 23, 2008

    Derek

    Great EP Gary, top 15!!!

    QOTH: I like oaster Bay

  12. January 23, 2008

    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

  13. January 23, 2008

    Billy Mac

    I have to go with the 2006 Drylands Sauvignon Blanc.

  14. January 23, 2008

    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

  15. January 23, 2008

    pforty

    QOTD: Only had the Kim Crawford. Until today!! Going out to get some of the others now!!

  16. January 23, 2008

    jumboj

    i’d also like to add that 12 is 2007 MVP QB tom brandy’s number.

  17. January 23, 2008

    jumboj

    last year the WL had a green bottle with a chicken on the label. that one brought the thunder!! the sunday mountain was an awesome steal too.

  18. January 23, 2008

    Dan NYC

    QOTD:KC was my favorite but the price keeps on going up and the quality is not getting better. This only means I have to drink more to find a new value. What a shame.

  19. January 23, 2008

    Marls

    Villa Maria was my first intro to NZ Sauvignon Blanc. I’ve been hooked ever since on Marlborough SB. Have had good vintages of Babich, & Nobilo regular bottling. Will hunt for Arona and Chasing Venus!

  20. January 23, 2008

    YoungDave

    QOTD: I’m not positive about the name, but I think the best I’ve had within my humble price range was Nautilus 2006 Sauv Blanc.

  21. January 23, 2008

    OldVinesJim

    QOTD: Drylands 2005 (2006 didn’t quite live up to prior vintage IMHO)

    I really like NZ SB and drink them often, but I can’t stand green/english peas so I feel like I’m playing Russian Roulette (Kiwi Roulette??) when I pull the cork. I’ve been on a bad run lately, too. Thanks for the warning on the New Harbor. I will avoid it at all costs.

  22. January 23, 2008

    NickThe Wine Guy

    I guess mine fave S.B. would be Oyster Bay

  23. January 22, 2008

    baccuhus7

    OK, you finally drew this on and off lurker out with the Kim Crawford bashing. I used to hate all Sauvignon Blanc wines until I finally tasted a Kim Crawford 2003 wine and then it all changed for me. Sure I have tried other SB, but I am never satisfied until I come home to Kim Crawford. Yeah, the Chilaen’s are doing a pretty good job Veramonte for about $8 isn’t bad. The CA are terrrible as you say, which is why I have always hated this varietal. Kenwood the classic is all grass. Anyway I have followed the Kim Crawford for the past 5 vintages. 2003 was zesty, but over sulfitaed which ruined the nose, 2004 was fruity but a bit flabby, 2005 was nothing special but no defects, 2006 was great and scored a 92 by WS, but of all the previous vintages I think the 2007 is fantastic. I was getting it for $11.94, but recently my supplier has gone to $17.00 and even Walmart is finally cheaper. Sure it isn’t worth it at that price, but Kim Crawford is the best. I have tried a bunch of Marobourgh wines (Matua is a good deal at $8 – 10 and they claim to have started it all, Redcliffe nothing special, Brancott is overrated, etc. Sure I have tried the Sancerre, but it is the grapefruit that I am after and it is only New Zealand that delivers on that. What say Gary?

  24. January 22, 2008

    soleil

    Favorite NZ SB — first one I had was Shepherd’s Ridge. I didn’t know anything about New Zealand Marlborough sauvignon blancs — just bought it off a front of store display at whole Foods before Thanksgiving a couple of years ago — only $9. It really surprised me, how different and delicious it was. So I started seeking these wines out and trying every one I could find, took them to every party and made everyone taste them. I found one called Saint clair, 2006, at Costco last summer, Matt Thomson, winemaker. I bought all they had because I thought it was good and a good price, $12. I still have some left and collect others when I see them, but I have sort of cooled off on them for a while. I agree about the Kim Crawford — very disappointing.

  25. January 22, 2008

    Jon Martinez

    Hey Gary,

    My first Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand that I fell love with was Selaks Premium Selection. That was about 7-8 years ago. Definitely when they were just starting to get into the American wine scene. That wine really made me start looking at not only N.Z., but other regions and varieties. There was more to wine other then California Chardonnays.

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