This post is the Wine of the Month for June. Since we are officially into summer (yay!), I decided to venture in the direction of “lighter fare” for the next few months. Hence, I have chosen Kim Crawford’s Sauvignon Blanc Marlorough (2022) for my first summer entry. This inexpensive, mass produced wine is actually an excellent Sauv. Blanc that can be bought almost anywhere. Clinton Wine & Spirits does carry it, and it’s well within Billy’s price range.
Sauvignon Blancs are grown all over the world. But, no one does it better than the Kiwis of New Zealand and their prime real estate for this grape varietal is Marlborough (although Central Otaga is also very good). 85% of all Sauv. Blanc acreage in New Zealand is in Marlborough; it’s the perfect place to grow this grape. The Sauv. Blanc is a high acid, low body, crisp white that always tastes like grapefruit & grass to me. It is bottled and sold young; not generally designed to cellar, just drink (although the better ones might keep for 2-4 years). It is considered the “quintessential” seafood wine and pairs well with most “briny” foods. An interesting side note, as part of New Zealand Wine Law, all Kiwi wines have a screw top. So, seeing one on a New Zealand bottle is no indication of quality.
As far as tasting notes goes, both mine and theirs, this wine has a light, citrus (grapefruit) and tropical (kiwi) aroma. One can also detect a hint of crushed herbs and grass. It is a “sunny” pale yellow white wine with “vibrant acidity and plenty of weight and length on the palate” (kimcrawfordwines.com). You may also get hints of melon and passion fruit. It is very crisp and refreshing, an easy drinking wine. In the stores right now, you will find 2022’s & some 2023’s. According to the Wine Spectator (WS), the very best Marlborough Sauv. Blancs come from Dog Point, Astrolabe, & Cloudy Bay wineries. As I have stated previously, the Kim Crawford is an excellent choice, which has been on WS’s “Top 100 Wines” four time in the last ten years. Finally, there is no such thing as an expensive Sauv. Blanc, most can be bought in the $15-$25 range (the best may cost $35-$40). So, look for 2022’s from Marlborough, and if you haven’t yet, try Kim Crawford!
That should do it for this one. Next time, I will return to Education with another major wine producing country. Be sure to check it out to see where I go. Cheers!