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EP 845 Brown Bag Challenge – Sauvignon Blanc Taste Off

Gary starts a blind tasting challenge with 2 Sauvignon Blancs and some surprising results.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2008 Cliff Lede Sauvignon BlancNapa Sauvignon Blanc
2008 Grieve Sauvignon BlancNapa Sauvignon Blanc


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luca bercelli

90/100

Line of the day, ‘I don’t need your two cents Mott’

Funny episode, Lizzie phones randomly and Mott has an opinion that is different from GVs. Wild!

Tags: napa, review, sauvignon blanc, white, wine, wines

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  • This was a fun and hilarious show one must admit. And you recommended a Honig to Lizzy? Hmmm, low rent if you ask me but what do I know?

    QOTD #1: Best? Your Alpha Omega you reviewed in your book is amazing though I just love the “OB” Oyster Bay which is inexpensive and a fun SB. I order it by the case.

    QOTD #2: Any SB made by prominent CA Cab producers, i.e. Phelps, Beringer et al. Horrible. Just horrible.

    P.S. I think you should have given us a “Cinderella” deal on the spot for the two so we can be the final arbiters of this blind tasting. I would buy them just to taste the difference.

    Welcome back

  • Monica

    I am fairly new into the whole wine thing, and trying to learn and explore a bit more. I do know that I like NZ SB. I love the grassy, citrusy-ness that they offer.

    Not sure of best or worst. I am bad at remembering names. Guess I will need to start taking notes, or something! 🙂

  • +2

  • Almost forgot: GO CAPS!!!!!

  • Timinspokane

    QOTD – Favorite sauvignon blanc – Barrister Winery (in Spokane, WA) Red Mountain sauvignon blanc. I like it better than any Aussie or New Zealand sauv blanc I have ever had!

  • Cole

    Good episode, love the brown bags. Im going to have to give a few best. My absolute fav was the Delille Chaleur Estate Blanc. I'll also say that for the money Veramonte's Sauvignon Blanc is awesome. I'll drink most of the New Zealand ones quite happily. I absolutely hated Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc.

  • corkscrew

    Have only in the past year come to enjoy Sauv Blanc once in a while, Gary only 50% right on the countries. Time to get out the Samurai Sword for the hari-cari.. QOTD-Kim Crawford is good, dont have a bad one yet. http://www.winelx.com

  • pawncop

    Great episode, love the blind tasting concept. Would really like to see these continue.

    HUGE fan of Sauvignon Blanc.

    QOTD – HUGE, HUGE fan of the New Zealand style (Marlborough region) Sauvignon Blanc.

    QOTD 2 – Not a fan of the California style although I really did like the Hanna Sauvignon Blanc.

  • Favourite – Saint Clair Wairau Reserve 2009

    Least Favourite – Not any particular

  • drt999

    QOTD — I can honestly say I've never had a Sauvignon Blanc I've really liked, and I've been trying them for 20+ years, from Loire, Cal, NZ, and South Africa. I don't dislike them, and I still try them, I just don't care enough to spend $$$ on them any more.

  • missatiejacket

    Nice episode. I have also found some non-NZ sauv blancs that I thought tasted exactly like NZ sauv blancs. I think it shows that the style has nothing to do with the climate or soil there.

    Bring on the double blinds!

  • waynoooo daaaaa winoooo

    Goooooood Scope on the 2010s…… Ready ta scarf some up !!!!!!

  • jaysonbryant

    Hi Gary
    just realised that this is the first comment in a while, nice comments section!
    Best Sauvignon Blanc would have to be Churton from Marlborough and the worst is Monkey Bay from Nobilo!
    Thanks for doing the show whilst in Sydney!

  • tflangan

    GBU gv. I luv your honesty. Thanks for a very refreshing episode. I enjoyed watching it while I was enjoying a very delectible SB from South Africa that blew me away at its price point – Warwick Professor Black 2008. Great everyday SV at a QPR price.

    Keep doin' what you're doin' my friend.

  • jaysonbryant

    I agree, the Wairau is great wine from Saint Clair!

  • I LOVE the brown bag episodes – definitely my favorite.

    QOTD: Haven't had a chance to taste any Sauvignon Blancs yet.

  • jparadise

    Love the brown bag shows. Are you sure you want to take a crack at double blind after the the “Great Cali New Zealand Sauv Blanc Fiasco of 2010” ??

    (Member of LA-Lurkers Anonymous, on the road to recovery)

  • Chilemily

    QOTD: My favorite Sauvignon Blanc is Maycas de Limari 2008 from Chile and my least favorite is Gato Blanco, which is step up from cheap boxed wine, meaning all they really did was put it in a bottle.

  • johnboston

    GV: oh my gosh, this is so amazing, we are actually taping a sauvignon blanc episode!
    LV: oh, that's great honey…

    haha. got to love that sarcasm.

  • NY Pete

    u drink the wine … ha ha ha ha ha ha

  • orangebottle

    You can?t fake this. I like the reactions you had. You called out the profiles and gave you scores. It is not easy. I don?t think with or without the brown bags can make a difference. You don?t like cliff Lede and it is a little expensive than it can offer. I agree with you. I love these brown bag shows.

  • NY Pete

    35 bones for a Cali SB … pazzzz.

  • NY Pete

    Mott tells it like it is … 🙂

  • JR

    That was absolutely hysterical

    QOTD: most favourite; Te Mata Cape Crest, very white Bordeaux like
    least favourite; So many to choose from… maybe Villa Maria simply because it sells so well and is so ordinary.

  • waynoooo daaaaa winoooo

    That is a tad pricey fer SB ………

  • Guilherme Levita

    QOTD: Chile – Casablanca Valley, William Cole Mirador Sauvignon Blanc.

  • Guilherme Levita

    Just forgot to tell something…

    A Limari's or Casablanca's chilean SB would prob kick both wines asses at the same time, and stay stand. Excellent price points and wonderfull quality.

  • liko sf

    Awesome show. Loved the phone call. The blown NZ call was funny too.

    QOTD: best= Cable Bay NZ Marlborough / worst=can't remember

  • good point, even though GV does not like to see WLTV as a selling platform…at certain price points crossed with CW, it could actually facilitate consumer education.
    Besides,now that he's pazzzd them, the folks in the warehouse need to figure out what to do with inventory…

  • JasonGonzales

    Dear Gary,

    Don't ever, ever gamble with the life of WLTV. I would have been SUPER pissed if the show ended that way… and to be honest, I probably would have kicked your ass. I'm just kidding. But seriously though…

    I hope all is well,
    Jason

  • JasonGonzales

    Totally.

  • A dumb Rhein king

    Great close up

    QOTD: I couldn't say fav and least fav, because my memory only goes back as far as my Cork'd account, but I thought the 2008 Kim Crawford SB was pretty good, and the 2007 Mondavi FB was so-so.

  • plus tres
    I agree…I probably would not spend that much on an SB unless it WAS Chilean (the Patty Green is under $20)…it would be the best way to ensure quality and worthwhile adventure for the palate.

  • SteveF

    Wow, Gary I didn't know that you where married to Fran Drescher.

  • Thursday

    Spare the phone call and mott that was one speedy episode!!!
    Not that there's anything wrong with that…

  • Braden G

    I agree – the '08 Kim Crawford is excellent, as was the '07 and as is the '09.

  • jeez all of this SB talk…wednesdays are a late dinner night… just went down to the cellar and grabbed a basic Vielles Vignes Sancerre selection from Daniel Haas of Vineyard Brands, to sip on while working the kitchen. Cellar temp, no chillin…
    Cheers.

  • waynoooo daaaaa winoooo

    It's a TUUUUUUUUFFFF Life …….. ;o)

  • waynoooo daaaaa winoooo

    Mott RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLEZZZZZZ !!!!!!!!!!!

  • Phil G

    Love it… keep it real, GV. Double blind would be even better!

    QOTD – I love Kim Crawford because it is so fresh and all about the terrior. Also love the elegance of Cloudy Bay, what a value. I really don't like any Loire Valley SB – too much body – yuck.

    Ok, I am lying.

  • Phil G

    Really loved the Luis Felipe Edwards Grand Reserva Sauvignon Blanc from 101 Wines – really great. Probably bought a case of it for me and gifts….

  • Favorite: I like the Kim Crawford. I very much prefer the crisp, citrusy high acid style.

    Least favorite: Any flabby (usually California) SB that tries to be a Chardonnay.

  • mmmm this stuff is pretty complex…I remember it now, the acids are not all ripping, but the body is soft and full, and the acids I do get are creeping, and mouth watering…
    got it on sale for $11! SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!

  • RedRum

    I am far from a wine elitist, but i can only enjoy Sancerres… the high acidity and minerality components that make my mouth water are very hard to find anywhere else outside Loire Valley. And it is your fault GV, after your sancerre episodes I tried them, and Loire valley became my reference point in wine drinking (as some of my fav reds are Chinon…) Great episode btw.

  • slimdogny

    POOF!! Love the brown bag.

    Fav: Chalk Hill and Tabali from Chile.

    Least: Marigny Neuf although I have not drank a wide variety of SB as I have with other varietals.

  • DZ

    Gary, Brown bag shows are my favorite; being a total Francofile, Sancerre and white Bordeaux are what excite me, least favorite would be Ca. or a NZ that's gone over at about age 3 or so. White Bordeaux probably wouldn't stand up to Sancerre when young but age much better and take on a totally different character. Yesterdays wine may have been neutered by too much “micro-oxygenation” in order to appeal to all the usual suspects at such a juvenile stage. Keep up your great enthusiasm.

  • kosmik

    Good value SV for my palate…
    Favorite : Ch. de Rochemorin, Pessac-Leognan, France
    Least favorite : Kim Crawford, NZ

  • mikeyz

    fave sauv blanc: cloudy bay or kim crawford
    worst (but i still drink it): 2 buck chuck

  • waynoooo daaaaa winoooo

    Yo slimdogny, Ain't Ya kinda tooo young ta be drinkin' ???????? :o)

  • plcb

    QOTD: best, Sancerre (can't recall a specific one, sorry)
    worst Kendall Jackson

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