This is a benchmark producer of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in the under $15 category. I haven’t been drinking as much NZ SB as I used to, but I thought I’d check this one out again.
Producer: Kim Crawford
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Appellation: Marlborough (New Zealand)
Vineyards: A blend from vineyards across the Marlborough region.
Winemaking: Night-harvested and cold-fermented, techniques used to preserve a crisp, fruity character.
Alcohol: 12.9%
Price: $12.65 at Costco
My tasting notes: Aggressively grassy nose but with lime and a little something tropical. Textbook NZ Sauvignon. Subtle peach and melon flavors join the citrus and grass on the palate. It’s crisp and clean, but there is a bit of creamy heft to it as well.
Overall assessment: Nice stuff. If you like the NZ SB style, this one won’t disappoint as an everyday value. If you don’t, I doubt this one will change your mind. If you still haven’t tried a NZ SB, this is a decent place to start as it’s pretty true to the style. B
Free association: Green and a little in-your-face, but ultimately lovable.
More info:
Wine Spectator: 91 pts (was #40 in WS Top 100 2008)
Wine Enthusiast: 90 pts
The winery’s tech sheet.
Nice write-up at Good Grape. More reviews at Wine Harlots, Wine Peeps, Cork’d (avg: 87) and CellarTracker (avg: 89).
I’ve noticed this wine creeping up in price in the Chicago market, normally around 15, but it’s always a safe buy. Everyone seems to shop at Costco but me, I really need to check this shizz out.
Yes, Costco is worth checking out. I wouldn’t do all my wine shopping there – there’s a limited selection obviously – but the prices are always good. They definitely focus on highly-scored wines. Other than the Yellow Tails and such, almost every wine they sell seems to have a good score from Parker or WS.
Having a wedding in Maui so sourcing a good SB is a little tough. We tried this one out at Costco and it was pretty typical of the NZ style. Go Cat Pee!
Brew – Congrats on the wedding. I love Maui. I think this is a very solid wine, though I’m sure some guests who’ve never had a NZ SB could be taken aback. It’s an aggressive style for those used to Cali Chards or similar.