#1 — 2007 Trentatre Rosso
#2 — 2007 Rabbit Ridge Allure de Robles
#3 — 2008 Sauvignon Republic Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc
#4 — 2008 VINTJS Syrah
#5 — 2007 Now & Zen Wasabi White
#6 — 2007 Perrin Cotes du Rhone Reserve
#7 — 2008 Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Carmenere
#8 — 2006 Chiusa Grande Tommolo Montepulciano d Abruzzo
#9 — 2008 La Granja Tempranillo
#10 — 2007 Dr. Beckermann Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling Spatlese
2007 King Shag Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Price: $6.99 @ Trader Joe’s imported by Americal Beverage Group
What They Said:
Per 2guysuncorked and I’ll go with Ted on this one…”This is probably the best sauvignon blanc I’ve had that is under $10. On the nose it’s bursting with citrus and fruity notes and it finishes with crisp acidity, that lingers just a bit as it reveals a slightly grassy finish. It would go great with some spicy food dishes, and it even holds up well to some spicy mango chicken I made to go with it.”
What I Think:
As many of you know I am a big fan of Sauvignon Blanc, especially from New Zealand. This one is completely typical of the Kiwi offering and in this case it is a good thing. It had the nice pale color, a nose of grapefruit and grassy aromas. On the palate you are greeted with a crisp flavorless start leading to floral and mineral undertones followed by a tangy and tingly lemon finish. Gooseberry is omnipresent throughout. We had this one with a salmon salad which was a perfect pairing. Thinking this is better than the Kono (and cheaper). Better than the Geyser Peak? Not sure but who cares, this Sauvignon Blanc trio at Trader Joe’s is one of the best deals going. Pick any of the three and you can’t go wrong. Better yet, get them all and let me know which is your favorite.
Rating: Buy It
This was a fave at our Menlo Park TJ’s last year. I slightly preferred Kono to this but it’s a bargain for sure. The best was Matua SB but that was a couple years ago.
I agree, King Shag is a great wine for the price. Problem: It hasn’t been available on my last two trips to Trader Joe’s. Does anyone know if it’s coming back?
I have not tried the King Shag yet, though I did buy a bottle tonight at the Trader Joe’s in Glen Ellyn, IL (they have several cases). Any good recommendations for food pairings? The Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc 2007 is great!
Our Wine Team had a tasting of “Thanksgiving wines” last night which included a Sauvignon Blanc (St. Michelle, tasty, $6) as well as some Pinot Noir and a Zinfandel. So, you could use it as a starter and/or during the meal or even bring it along to your next wine & cheese event. IMO, milder flavors and lighter foods seem to work best with this wine. Cheers!
@Alexander I know Angela already gave you some thoughts but in my opinion Sauvignon Blanc was described best in the Chronicle today discussing Thanksgiving dos and don’ts when they said “The season’s over, just like with white pants.” That is my relationship with Sauv Blanc (and most other whites), great in the summer when I need refreshment but otherwise difficult to pair through the winter… That said my optimal dinner pairing is salmon. Otherwise consider using it when you may have otherwise used sparkling…
I couldn’t find the ’07 so I picked up the ’08 today at the TJs in Sunnyvale. Planning to have it tonight next to a Penne w/ Salmon dish.
Any opinions on the ’08 compared to the ’07?
The 2008 was a hit last night with the Salmon Penne dish. I wish I could compare it to the 2007, but frankly I can’t imagine the 2007 being much better. The review seemed spot on for the flavors that I got, and it was incredibly tasty.
I have two main concerns when I drink wine:
1) Is there going to be too much alcohol burn?
2) Is this wine going to be overly sugary?
This is actually one of the first wines I have had that passes both tests. It was a very smooth wine, with lots of bright flavors and did not seem to have too many residual sugars. Sweet without being sugary.
I’m still new to wine and this is the first wine I’ve picked out that has been highlighted on the blog. Hoping I have as much success in the future with the others!
Thank You!