WTN: Lost River, Kim Crawford, Condes de Albarei

[Jenise]

2006 Condes de Albarei Albarino
I poured a glass of this last night for my friend Bruce. We both stuck our noses in the glasses, took a sip, and simultaneously exclaimed "detergent!" And I mean dish soap. We both agreed that had either of us been drinking this alone, or in a restaurant, we'd have assumed that we were drinking out of insufficiently rinsed glasses. The rest of the wine didn't taste bad--12.5% alcohol and nicely balanced, but the detergent component was so prominent that the rest of it's qualities really don't matter. $12.75 locally.

What a relief, then, to switch to the 2007 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, which my friend Vanessa, who is just a casual wine drinker, brought over. The 'casual' part is important because Vanessa's eyes bugged out when she saw me unscrew the cap to pour--she had no idea that it was a screw cap wine, and she had no idea that screw caps are no longer a sign of Skid Row Plonk so she turned beet red with mortification and started apologizing profusely before we could explain. I guess we afficianado types are all so used to knowing what we know that we forget that the average supermarket wine buyer hasn't yet heard the news that screwcaps are good for early drinkers. Anyway, the Kim Crawford: this is a fierce little wine, full of cat pee and gooseberries, which is what made me once hate Sauvignon Blancs and which is now what I live to find. I don't recall that the KCs were made in this style, but I'm delighted to discover that, at least in this vintage, it is. Delicious.

The night before we dropped by a friend's, and they served us the 2005 Lost River Syrah from Washington State. Had I been served this blind, I think I'd have guessed it to be South African due to the charred nose. On the palate, some cherry fruit and violets, but a sat-on-the-warmer-too-long French Roast coffee bitterness dominates and made the wine an overall unpleasant experience.

What a relief, then, to switch to the 2007 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, ...... this is a fierce little wine, full of cat pee and gooseberries, which is what made me once hate Sauvignon Blancs and which is now what I live to find. I don't recall that the KCs were made in this style, but I'm delighted to discover that, at least in this vintage, it is. Delicious.

Gosh, you're one up on me. I haven't even tried that wine yet. But it sounds a pretty spot on description for a newly released KC Marlborough Sauv Blanc.

What a relief, then, to switch to the 2007 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, which my friend Vanessa, who is just a casual wine drinker, brought over. The 'casual' part is important because Vanessa's eyes bugged out when she saw me unscrew the cap to pour--she had no idea that it was a screw cap wine, and she had no idea that screw caps are no longer a sign of Skid Row Plonk so she turned beet red with mortification and started apologizing profusely before we could explain. I guess we're all so used to knowing what we know that we forget that the average supermarket wine buyer hasn't yet heard the news. Anyway, the Kim Crawford: this is a fierce little wine, full of cat pee and gooseberries, which is what made me once hate Sauvignon Blancs and which is now what I live to find. I don't recall that the KCs were made in this style, but I'm delighted to discover that, at least in this vintage, it is. Delicious.

I happened to pick up a couple bottles at Costco about 6 weeks ago for only $13 each; only bought two because I have found the Crawford can be overly voluptuous and bordering on sweet. Now I wish I had had purchased more of this 2007 vintage. WOW!! The aromas are absolutely explosive, and the finish has that wonderful combination of gooseberry and grapefruit that just drives me wild. Also, at 13.0% ABV, the wine is nice and gentle on the palate. I think I'll head back this weekend to see if they still have some more.

-- Clark

I think "fierce" is a pretty good desription of the 07 KC Sauv Blanc I tasted Saturday afternoon..I think previous vintages may have had more cat's pee or I am getting used to it..have 2 cats at home ..but I had a hard time getting past the lime /grapefruit/citrus attack on the palate..Maybe this wine will settle down with time, it usually is an annual buy for me..will need to revisit it before I buy the 07 however..Right now, it is a little too intense for me..

[Jenise]

..Right now, it is a little too intense for me..

I can understand that. I remember being concerned that Vanessa wouldn't like her own wine--it's not a style for everyone, and obviously I remember when I couldn't stand that style myself. As it is...our local Costco's out of it, but I was happy to bag a few bottles at a far-off Costco when we were on vacation last week, and on a hot and humid night in the tropics I don't know what could have been more refreshing. And it hasn't really settled down all that much since we had it last summer, so you might want to give yours another year.

I'm trying three different Sauvignon Blancs this week and next and may look for the 2007 Kim Crawford to try also. I may end up in the Jon Liefer camp. I prefered the 2004 Kim Crawford S.B. to the 2006 which I thought had a particularly acidic edge. Also prefered 2006 Nobilo and Cooper Creek S. B. to the KC from that vintage. Right now I have the 2006 Bedford Road S.B. open (a Marlborough wine that may be primarily for export.) It has a grapefruit zest without the cat's pee. I have another 2006 Marlborough S.B. to try along with the Pollo Bianco S.B. from Biale (Napa Valley).

I prefered the 2004 Kim Crawford S.B. to the 2006 which I thought had a particularly acidic edge.

I just checked my database and noticed that it was the 2004 Kim Crawford that I found to be overly voluptuous. I have a several year gap after that, because I was a bit put off by the style of that 2004 wine. For my taste, they really got it right with the 2007.

-- Clark

With the Kim Crawford SB, you are talking about my house white. With a bit of searching I can usually find it for around 13-14 bucks a pop and it is wonderful both with lots of different foods and by itself out on the deck on a nice day. Occaisionally I spring for a bottle of Cloudy Bay (or a nice Chablis or Sanserre) but with the Kim Crawford at half the price it's my everyday white of choice. And yes, the 2007 is the best one in a couple of years.

Glenn

I've now tried the 2007 vintage ($16.99 at the grocery store) and liked it better than the 2006. My notes say pleasing pungent nose. Delicious tingly sensation on the palate. Lemon and grapefruit without too much grassiness. I agree with those who found this delightful. I haven't yet tried the Nobilo from 2007 or the Pollo Bianco Sauvignon Blanc from Biale Vineyards, Napa but suspect I'll go back for more bottles of the Kim Crawford. It held up well in the refrigerator for several days. I also have a Linda Domas Salience Sauvignon Blanc from Australia to try that was only $9.99 on sale.

[Jenise]

I've now tried the 2007 vintage ($16.99 at the grocery store) and liked it better than the 2006. My notes say pleasing pungent nose. Delicious tingly sensation on the palate. Lemon and grapefruit without too much grassiness. I agree with those who found this delightful. I haven't yet tried the Nobilo from 2007 or the Pollo Bianco Sauvignon Blanc from Biale Vineyards, Napa but suspect I'll go back for more bottles of the Kim Crawford. It held up well in the refrigerator for several days. I also have a Linda Domas Salience Sauvignon Blanc from Australia to try that was only $9.99 on sale.

Glad you liked it. Interesting how different our tastes are. You find it pleasingingly pungent, and I called it fierce, but for Jon it was a bit too intense right now. You didn't find "too much grassiness", where I found it very grassy (that's the 'fierce' part) but that's exactly what I loved about it. If you see Guenoc's 06 around, give that one a try, too--it has some of the grass but a bit more fruit and elegance.

Yeah, I tried the Guenoc at the recent Calif Wine Show and liked it but the Hanna is still the tops in my books. Kenwood, Sterling, St Supery are still producing some nice dry SBs.

St. Supery has been my favorite domestic S.B. in the past. I also liked one from Honig and one from Joel Gott.

[Jenise]

St. Supery has been my favorite domestic S.B. in the past. I also liked one from Honig and one from Joel Gott.

St. Supery's a class act. I've also liked the Honig and Hanna that Bob mentioned. Joel Gott was one we tried last year and liked okay, but it didn't stand out for me as a Buy Again. Where Guenoc did, and at 9.99 (about $4-6 less than the others in my market) it's a case buy.

I may look for the Guenoc among Raleigh-area shops but it probably would cost more here if available at all.

Yeah, I tried the Guenoc at the recent Calif Wine Show and liked it but the Hanna is still the tops in my books. Kenwood, Sterling, St Supery are still producing some nice dry SBs.

Bob, have you had a chance to try St. Supery's Virtú? I've been intrigued by it since reading Robin's description a while back, and I've even seen it on a restaurant wine list in FL, but went for their SB instead.

Mark Lipton