Sauvignon Blanc Taste Off

Sauvignon Blanc Taste Off - Episode #436

April 3, 2008

Gary tries a California Sauvignon Blanc vs a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc…head to head in a Death Match!

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Comments on this episode(272) Leave a comment ›

“Hi Gary,

I was super excited about your video contest that you ment…” by TurdLibraryTV.com
“Gary thank you sincerely for trying Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc. I vis…” by Jason Schermerhorn
View all 272 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Spy Valley Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
2007 Hanna Sauvignon BlancSonoma Sauvignon Blanc

Links mentioned in todays episode.

WLTV Uncut video

272 Responses

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about 2 months ago

TurdLibraryTV.com
Hi Gary,

I was super excited about your video contest that you mention in this episode. I haven’t heard anything else about it. I’ve tried to get a hold of someone via email at winelibrary.com but I haven’t gotten any response.

Was it a real contest? No biggie either way I guess. I had fun making the video. Hope you like it.

http://www.TurdLibraryTV.com
about 3 months ago

Jason Schermerhorn
Gary thank you sincerely for trying Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc. I visited New Zealand in Jan 2007 and loved the whole country, especially the wine regions (like Marlborough) - Spy Valley was fantastic, but the only wines I’ve seen here were the Sauvignon Blanc. They also have great Riesling and Gewurztraminer - maybe Wine Library can import some of their other varietals?!

Thanks again for giving it a taste. Really appreciate you honoring the request to try this wine!

Thanks from a Marine who appreciates your educating people to trust their palate.

Jason Schermerhorn
about 4 months ago

Tommy Vernieri
Wow, big difference from the last vintage on the Hanna, do you think that’s just the weather’s affect on the grapes?

I like this format sometimes too, it’s nice to have short episodes every once in a while for a change of pace and this keeps it focused.

In general Sauvignon Blancs haven’t gotten me too excited. I think the 2006 LÃ©on Vatan Sancerre Les Moulins BÃ£les is my favorite so far. Had a little burst of orangey citrus on the initial attack that lead to a bit of a creamy midpalate and then a nice medium-length finish that ends up full of minerals and a bit of seashell.
about 4 months ago

Matt
Lately I’ve been drinking Dry Creek Vineyard’s Fume Blanc, and SB is definitely one of my favorite varietals.
about 4 months ago

lee
im drinking Quincy, New Zealand, Wash State, and Chile SB
about 4 months ago

Victor M
thr spoff was good … the best part was the face in the bucket for a minute and a half
about 4 months ago

Arjen Blom
Hi Guys,
besides the typical marlborough Sauv blanc, I adore the Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc specially the Shottesbrooke or the one from Tomich Hill!
about 4 months ago

Mr.Ambassador
Nice H2H competition today.

I enjoy Sauvignon Blanc and have had the opportunity to try the Hanna which was quite enjoyable. The most recent Sauvignon Blancs I’ve sampled have been three different bottles from “Sauvignon Republic”. The label produces only Sauvihgnon Blanc produced from several different regions; the three types I sampled were from Stellenbosch, Marlborough and Russian River. I really enjoyed the wine from South Africa and New Zealand but can’t recommend the one from California. South Africa surprised me the most with a fantastic nose featuring big passionfruit aromatics; California disappointed with a “tinned-pineapple” and “dirty cantaloupe rind” smell.
about 4 months ago

Jacob S
QOTD: Yes, love it. Really enjoying white Bordeaux…although I just spend 2 months in France, where you can get very good stuff at a reasonable price point. Like the Brokenwood ‘Cricket Pitch’ Sauv/Sem blend from Aus, and the Wild Rock Sauv Blanc from Marlborough NZ
about 4 months ago

Mia
Hey Gary,
I LOVE Savignon Blanc!!! My favorite is Geyser Peak. I’ve tried numerous New Zealand varieties but always come back to GP. I’m right there with you sipping a glass while I’m cooking or with appetizers. I’m also a big fan of Chateau Montelena Reisling, another great white.
about 4 months ago

wannaBconnoisseur
Love the head to heads! No more draws though Gary, sounded like the NZ wine was the winner.

Q- Love them, Drylands S. Blanc from NZ is one of our favorites.
about 4 months ago

foulmouthpoet
LOVE sauv blanc. drinking mostly marblorough, but starting to get into less gooseberry-bombs. enjoying some of the more subtle ones…
about 4 months ago

charlie berg
cool show, gary. you definitely got me thinking about some mouthwatering, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, especially with warmer weather around the corner.QOTD Love good Sancerre and Pouilly fume, i can also get into some marlborough cat pee.
about 4 months ago

AVP
Love it, even though I had my moment of doubt after drinking a lot of NZ and other New World sb’s - crisp and perhaps a bit too clean. Then went back to Loire sb’s and now I can appreciate them both for their own and different characteristics.

Recently I hugely enjoyd Pouilly-FumÃ© de Ladoucette from 2003. Very interesting aromas and very well structured.
about 4 months ago

SF Young
Sav Blanc when made right is an exquisite varietal (not too veggie)….Try the Vina Robles Sav Blanc out of Paso Robles (surprisingly elegant)
about 4 months ago

Eric J
I have to agree, I love the head-to-head.
I really dig Sauv Blancs in the summer so it’s been a while since I’ve had one. The Kim Crawdford is my ’standby’ but Turnbull does a pretty nice one as well.
about 4 months ago

sonapa
Let there be better/cheaper SB for the world. And why not more veggie SB, this is what Sav Blanc Jedi’s must have. Oaked no. Crisp maybe. Green yes. Veggie, must have.
about 4 months ago

Rich
Great Episode, Kim Crawford SB. Delicious. Grapefruit all the way
about 4 months ago

Eric G
LOOOOOVE Head to head. Like the short shows too.

QOTD: drinking white bordeaux SB (blends). Loving them. Last one I drank was Chateau De Callac Graves Blanc from WineLib pretty good
about 4 months ago

Justin L Ove
QOTD: Sacred Hill, Marlborough.
Head to head YEAH!
about 4 months ago

C-BusWineMofo
QOTD - Sav blanc from Loire, Sav Blanc fron Chile, 1 Sav blanc from Ohio “St. Joseph” and 1 sav blanc from Cali - Grgich Hill Fume Blanc.
about 4 months ago

Kori
Gary, Mott, and Matt,

Great to meet you all at Taste Washington this weekend! Here’s my Wine Blogging Wednesday link again:

http://winepeeps.com/2008/04/02/wine-blogging-wednesday-44-french-cabernet-franc/

And, my favorite Sauvignon Blanc right now is: 2007 Kim Crawford, Marlborough, NZ.
about 4 months ago

pawncop
I love Sauvignon Blanc. Kim Crawford, Craggy Range, Nobilio (Regional and Icon), Wairau River, Allan Scott to name a few. Love the crispness and citrus flavors.

Will add these two to my list of new bottles to try.

Like you I have not be so impressed with the California efforts.

Be safe on your trip.
about 4 months ago

Jsco
Right now I am all about Huia and Highfield sav blanc!!! Put the word out! Though as a CKC its worth eating top ramen to drink the good stuff
about 4 months ago

Matthew L
Hey Gary. I love, love, LOVE Sauvignon Blanc. It has to be one of my favorite white varietals. I’m partial to SVs from NZ. I actually like the punchy grapefruit and mango flavors from that region. I just finished off a bottle of Spy Valley. I enjoyed it, but didn’t like it as much as Vavasour. You turned me onto that producer when I stopped in the store. (Seems like forever since I was there.)

QOTD: Right now I don’t have any Sauvignon Blanc in my wine fridge. I’m gonna have to fix that!