Celebrating Sauvignon Blanc Day
Once a year, something special happens. Winegrowers and wine enthusiasts all over the world come together to celebrate Sauvignon Blanc. This amazing grape is grown in practically every wine region across the globe, crafting excellent values and profound collectibles alike. There is no other white grape so widely produced as distinctive as Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in barrel or stainless steel, grown on chalky soils or Greywacke stone, Sauvignon Blanc is limitless in its expressions. And whether you have a mineral-driven glass of Sancerre or a hyper-aromatic splash of Marlborough Sauv Blanc, nothing is more perfect on a hot summer day. For anyone who thinks Sauvignon Blanc is an overly simple, easy-drinking white, think again. Wines like Pavillon Blanc, Dagueneau Pur Sang, Eislie Sauvignon Blanc, and Cloudy Bay Te Koko continue to set global benchmarks with distinctive wines of incredibly high quality. Today, the staff and buyers at K&L are opening up Sauvignon Blanc from around the world to pay homage to the Sauvignon Blanc grape and the wonderful wine it produces.
- Thomas Smith, New Zealand Buyer
New Zealand
2019 TWR (Te Whare Ra) Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough $19.99
Husband-and-wife team Anna and Jason Flowerday bought the historic Te Whare Ra vineyard just outside of Renwick in 2001. While the vineyard is one of Marlborough’s oldest, Anna and Jason have ushered it into the modern era, converting it to fully biodynamic and sustainable viticulture. Their Sauvignon Blanc is simply the best that Marlborough has to offer. Creating classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with an Alsatian touch, the Flowerdays use a combination of large-format oak and stainless steel with extended lees contact to increase texture and weight. This is powerful and weighted, with soaring tropical fruit flavors of mango, lime with pear and stone fruit accents, this is the must-try Sauvignon Blanc of the Summer.
- Thomas Smith, New Zealand Buyer
2019 Fromm Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough $19.99
Although Fromm is widely regarded as Marlborough’s most acclaimed producer of Pinot Noir, the best secret in their portfolio is their Sauvignon Blanc. Very little of it is made, and I find it to be one of the best boutique Sauvignon Blancs produced in Marlborough today. Winemaker Hätsch Kalberer has been crafting the wines at Fromm for over two decades and the grapes are sourced from the ultra high quality Churton Vineyard, nestled in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys. Kalberer philosophy with regards to Sauvignon Blanc is simple: hand-picked grapes are immediately pressed and allowed to slowly ferment in stainless steel until bone dry. With tart green apple character and thirst-quenching acidity, this is a bright and vibrant Sauvignon Blanc that you’ll absolutely love.
- Thomas Smith, New Zealand Buyer
California
2017 Anthem "Carsi Ranch Vineyard" Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc (Elsewhere $50) $19.99
This is a very serious white Bordeaux inspired wine from a great vineyard site on the southern edge of Yountville. It consists predominantly of Sauvignon Blanc (76%), with a good dollop of Semillon (24%,) that adds texture and complexity on the mid-palate. The wine was fermented and aged in French oak just like the great white wines of Pessac-Léognan. The nose is full of orchard blossom, freshly cut Meyer lemon, dried apricot, and almond paste. The palate is rich with ripe citrus, kumquat, lime cordial, and short crust pasty notes. The oak spice is subtle, but frames the flavors nicely, drawing the wine out long on the palate. A lovely layered wine offering more complexity than many of its competitors from around the valley. If you've enjoyed Sauv Blancs from Duckhorn, Spottswoode, or Cliff Lede, I would highly recommend checking this out, it drinks well above its price point and is a new favorite here at K&L.
- Ryan Woodhouse, Domestic Buyer
Washington State
2018 Avennia "Oliane" Yakima Valley Sauvignon Blanc (Elsewhere $28) $19.99
One of the finest Domestic Sauvignon Blancs you're likely to come across at any price point. I honestly put this up there with the very best examples from iconic producers like Spottswoode, Eisele, and with another one of my favorite Washington standouts, Delille. Beyond Domestic competition, this could happily mix it up with a lineup of top white Bordeaux from Graves and Pessac-Léognan. The intensity of the varietal character is stunning, bursting with freshly chopped herbs, orchard blossom, jasmine, citrus peel, wet chalk, and lime leaf. The palate is broad and textured but keeps a razor-sharp edge of salivatory acidity and beautiful stony mineral tinges. The oak is very subtle but just gives another facet, along with the concrete egg portion that I always suspect gives a slightly wild complexity. It's a complex wine and one that I could (and probably will) drink time and time again. Our pricing is from a winery-direct deal and makes this one of the must-have values in this category. Try a bottle and then load up quick...or just trust me and grab case—this is a winner.
- Ryan Woodhouse, Domestic Buyer
Chile
2019 Laberinto "Cenizas de Laberinto" Sauvignon Blanc Maule Valley $17.99
The Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc is a wine that not only captivates on the palate it has captured my imagination. I will speak to the latter first. The wine is named Laberinto because the fruit most of the fruit is sourced from a vineyard that was laid out as a Labyrinth. This vineyard is essentially in a National Park in Colbun Chile. I love that they decided to do that! Magic in a magic place so you can guess how these wines taste, magical. This is an intense Sauvignon Blanc, it is driven by mouth watering acid and cool minerality. That edge is tempered with ripe stone fruit and zesty citrus. What is truly magical about this wine, an open bottle almost instantly empties, at least in my house….
- Kirk Walker, Chilean Buyer
Sancerre
2019 Eric Cottat Sancerre $19.99
Every year winemaker Eric Cottat seems to get better and better at his craft. He has been a staff favorite for years and has always had a strong following in each of our stores. The 2019 is a benchmark vintage delivering a generously fruited wine with ruby-red grapefruit, crushed pineapple and pomelo flavors. Lemon verbena and fresh cut grass on the finish give great typicity. All is wonderfully balanced by a streak of acidity. Destined to be one of the greats this year!
- Keith Mabry, Loire Buyer
2019 Franck Millet "Insolite" Sancerre $29.99
I have many favorites but the 2019 Sancerre Insolite from Frank Millet is my fave right now. It just came back in stock. We always sell this out quickly, and the 2019 is off the charts great. Their first Insolite vintage was 2003.
The wines of this family domaine have been a staple here at K&L since the 1994 vintage when (on Easter Sunday1995, Franck and Betty Millet drove a long way to Beaune!) ) to present their wines. The wines were great even in that tough vintage, and the rest is history. We love these wines for their freshness, charm, and affordability. This is the reserve cuvée, made from Millet's chalkiest limestone soils. There is a long maceration at very low temperatures to extract as much flavor and terroir as possible. The resulting wine is charged with mineral and stony flavors, is very intense and full of bright citrus notes, and it ages quite well
- Clyde Beffa, Co-owner and Bordeaux Buyer