One of my favorite white wines.
We had snow today. And the wind is bitter cold. On cold, dreary winter days, when those sad, heavy blues try to keep you feeling down, I like to reach for a taste from the southern hemisphere. What I fondly think of as liquid sunshine. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. This wine lifts my mood, and always puts a smile on my face.
Note: I used my favorite Schott Zweisel wine glass when I evaluated this wine. This wine glass was designed for Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Gris. It shows the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc beautifully. Strongly Recommended.
Tasting Notes 2015 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
Color: Clear, clean, lemon-green.
Nose: Medium intensity, tropical, ripe mango, kiwi, savory grassy note.
Palate: Crisp, dry, lemon-lime, salinity, tropical, passion fruit, mango, on the finish salty-lime. Yum. Where is the shrimp?
Thoughts: New Zealand rocks the Sauvignon Blanc. They just do. I’m not sure how we ended up with a 2015. Reassuring that it it held up so well. Drink now. Or look for 2016 and 2017 vintages. Expect to chase away those winter blues. Fabulous wine with seafood. Or just because.
Strongly Recommended.
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Closure: Screw Cap
ABV: 13%
About Kim Crawford
Kim Crawford Wines was established in 1996 by Kim and Erica Crawford. By 2003 their Sauvignon Blanc was recognized with tremendous acclaim. Today they have become the number one New Zealand wine in the United States. In 2005 Anthony Walkenhorst joined the Kim Crawford team. It is his talent which guides the production of Kim Crawford wines today. Well done Mr. Walkenhorst!
There's a reason I have become such a fan of New Zealand wines. Because they are so good. Kim Crawford wines should be at everyone's table. Enjoy alone or with food, create new memories featuring a taste of New Zealand with good friends. Thank me later.
Note: Regular readers know that I started a New Zealand wine blog in 2011 with my friend Juli Crompe (Kiwi Daydreaming), due to a mutual fixation with wines of New Zealand. Sadly, our New Zealand blog has lost steam, so I will post my New Zealand wine reviews to this blog. Yes, Juli is well and enjoying life in western Washington. We do keep in touch. And yes, a visit to New Zealand is still on my list and long overdue. I'm still Kiwi Daydreaming!
About New Zealand
New Zealand is divided into two main islands, North Island and South Island. New Zealand has a long 15,000-kilometre coastline which has its own unique diversity. The West Coast is rugged and untamed while the coastal highlights of the East Coast are its gentle sandy beaches and harbors dotted with islands. Straddling two tectonic plates and sitting on the Pacific Rim of Fire has resulted in geothermal areas and volcanoes, some of which are still active.
- As of 2011 there are 698 New Zealand wineries, with 33,600 hectares in wine grapes, the largest being the Marlborough region with 19,024 hectares.
- Sauvignon Blanc is the largest varietal produced, making up 50% of total production, with 16,758 hectares, followed by Pinot Noir at 14%, with 4,803 hectares planted.
- Exports by country are lead by Australia 31%, the UK 27% and the USA 21%.
- There are 8 main New Zealand wine regions: Auckland, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury, Central Otago.
Source: New Zealand Winegrowers
Mauriora! (Good Health/Cheers!)