Swill or Swell: Episode 17

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

watch the episode here

Welcome to Swill or Swell, a weekly series where I taste grocery store wines and let you know if they’re worth the buck or just meant for the drain!

​CAVEAT! As you read this, please keep in mind that wine is subjective! This means that everyone enjoys different things and something I like might not be something you like and vice versa. I’ll be as objective as I can with facts about the wine’s quality, but in the end if your opinion differs from mine...that’s perfectly fine! Wine is only worth drinking if YOU like drinking it!

LET’S INTRODUCE THE WINE

Today I’ll be tasting the 2020 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. I purchased from Walgreens for just $11.99.I really wanted to try this because one of the first wines I loved was a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. However, it was Nobilo brand so let’s see how this Kim Crawford compares!

KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC FUN FACTS

Let’s start by talking about the Sauvignon Blanc varietal.

• This originated in France: Loire Valley & Bordeaux.
  
• The grape then found a home for itself in Marlborough, New Zealand.
  
• This varietal typically more tropical fruit notes and a touch of residual sugar to balance acidity.
  
• This varietal also has unique aromas such as: pyrazines (green pepper), grass, cat pee (funky and tangy, comes from chemical compound).
  
• This is the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon

Now let’s talk a little about the producer, Kim Crawford.

• Founded in Auckland as a “virtual winery” in 1996, Kim Crawford began exporting to the U.S. in 1998. It was acquired by Constellation Brands in 2006.
  
• It isn't tied to an actual winery that you could go visit; rather, it's a brand created around a concept or style of wine that will sell in the marketplace.
  
• While many American consumers assume that Kim Crawford, founder and former owner of Kim Crawford Wines, is a woman, he is actually a man! Kim is considered a unisex name in New Zealand.
  
• Sold Kim Crawford wines for $50 mil and now owns Loveblock, which specializes in organic and sustainable viticulture.
  
• Sauvy B accounts for approximately 90% of its overall sales.

WINE TASTING NOTES

Look: Light straw like color
Smell: Two notes immediately stand out. Tropical fruit, and a funkiness (that typical Sauvignon Blanc cat pee type smell). I also get freshly mowed grass.
Taste: A lot of flavor going on here. Punch of acidity (not overwhelming though), medium body to balance it out, a lot of that tropical note, no funky taste on the palate (which is good), not a lot of sweetness.
Think:
Food Pairing - Roast chicken with some sort of citrus side or dressing, something savory or fatty to balance it out
Occasion - This would be a good outside porch sipper, or the type of wine you bring to a dinner when you don’t know the type of wine that everyone likes
Rating - I did enjoy this! I would definitely buy this again, so I give it a swell.

Want to learn more? Check out my Instagram every Thursday at 5PM PST for a new episode of Swill or Swell! Have a wine you’d like me to taste? Write your request in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram!

Cheers!