WTN: Competing Kiwis

I purchased a bottle of 2010 Kono Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand in Raleigh last week and decided to compare it to the 2010 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough which I picked up at another Raleigh wine shop (and can usually find at the grocery store.) I paid $12.99 for the Kono (some places have it for as little as $8) and $16.99 for the Kim Crawford.
The Kono is produced by the Maori people. Both wines were listed as 13.5% alcohol by volume and came with screwcap closure. I really liked the Kono and had been advised by the sales clerk when I picked it out that it was really good. Almost colorless. Pungent nose. Citric flavors. Some of the refreshing qualities of lemonade or grapefruit juice but with the addition of a mild alcoholic boost. I would buy this again in a heartbeat.
The Kim Crawford was okay but I prefered the Kono which cost $4.00 less. The Kim Crawford seems to have some variation year-to-year and I think there are other vintages which I liked better than the 2010.

On last Monday I got to go to a southern hemisphere tasting and go through about a dozen New Zealand Sauvvignon Blancs. The Kim Crawford $17 was still the 2009. It was nice and well rounded but no great value. I really like the ones that have a bit more acidity and agressiveness. I thought that the 2010 Villa Maria Private Bin $13 was much more my style. It had much more intensity of flavors, more gooseberry. My best value there was still the Clifford Bay 2009 for $10. It was still showing very well. I have had the 2009 Kono a number of months ago. It was nice at $11 and probably as good as the Nobilo regional 2010 that I tasted on Monday.