Sauvignon Blanc Taste Off – Episode #436

April 3, 2008

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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(274) Leave a comment ›

  • “I enjoy Sav blanc’s only from New Zealand…don’t enjoy California Sav…” by Kristen
  • “I LOVE onions. Oh man…. raw, fried, grilled, carmelized…. I will …” by Dessert Wine Nerd
  • View all 274 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Spy Valley Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc play review at cork'd
2007 Hanna Sauvignon BlancSonoma Sauvignon Blanc play review at cork'd

Links mentioned in todays episode.

274 Responses

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  1. July 1, 2009

    Kristen

    I enjoy Sav blanc’s only from New Zealand…don’t enjoy California Sav blanc’s. Gary did a nice job describing the wine, but he got off beat too much! Kinda was a dork…wouldn’t watch him again.

  2. January 10, 2009

    Dessert Wine Nerd

    I LOVE onions. Oh man…. raw, fried, grilled, carmelized…. I will literally carmelize and entire onion sometimes and toss it on a steak. ONIONS!!!!! Arghhhh, all these contests I cant compete it! KAHHHHHNNNNN!!!!!!! QOTD: I do enjoy me some. Last two I had were a Villa Maria and a Kim Crawford, both tasty…. and I did smell the cat pee!!!

  3. June 15, 2008

    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

  4. May 12, 2008

    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

  5. April 27, 2008

    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 Léon Vatan Sancerre Les Moulins Bãles 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.

  6. April 23, 2008

    Matt

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

  7. April 20, 2008

    lee

    im drinking Quincy, New Zealand, Wash State, and Chile SB

  8. April 14, 2008

    Victor M

    thr spoff was good … the best part was the face in the bucket for a minute and a half

  9. April 14, 2008

    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!

  10. April 14, 2008

    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.

  11. April 13, 2008

    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

  12. April 11, 2008

    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.

  13. April 11, 2008

    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.

  14. April 11, 2008

    foulmouthpoet

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

  15. April 9, 2008

    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.

  16. April 9, 2008

    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-Fumé de Ladoucette from 2003. Very interesting aromas and very well structured.

  17. April 9, 2008

    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)

  18. April 9, 2008

    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.

  19. April 9, 2008

    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.

  20. April 8, 2008

    Rich

    Great Episode, Kim Crawford SB. Delicious. Grapefruit all the way :)

  21. April 8, 2008

    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

  22. April 8, 2008

    Justin L Ove

    QOTD: Sacred Hill, Marlborough.
    Head to head YEAH!

  23. April 8, 2008

    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.

  24. April 8, 2008

    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.

  25. April 7, 2008

    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.

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