Fast facts:
- 2017 Kirkland Marlborough (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc $6.99 (@Costco; California)
- 2016 Matua Marlborough (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc $7.99 (@Costco; California)
You may have deduced from my posts that I am a bigger fan of red wines. That said, when we are drinking white wines at our house, it is more often than not Sauvignon Blanc and, more more often than not, from New Zealand. The bracing acidity of these wines make them extremely food friendly, and when summer is “bringing the heat” the way it is now, these wines are extremely refreshing as well.
The Kiwis were the first wine producing country that really got behind screw caps while the rest of the world insisted on corks. Impress your friends (especially the wine geeks and those like me that are “in the trade”) by referring to these as “Stelvin closures” and watch their heads explode.
But about the wines…which have a lot in common, at least on their face:
Same grape.
Same appellation (Marlborough, New Zealand).
Differences? Note that one is a 2016 and the other a 2017. Oh, and one is bottled under the “Kirkland Signature” label. That’s only significant if you’re trying to impress your aforementioned wine geek friends. That’s because people tend to dismiss “house brands” as being inferior. That would be a big mistake in this case.
The back label of the Matua says that the word is Maori for “head of the family.” I’m guessing it’s really Maori for “watery and simple” in this case.
The Kirkland Signature “SauvBlanc” is a superior wine, a delightful melange of concentrated tropical and citrus flavors. And did I mention it’s cheaper at just $6.99?! Granted, the Matua is only a buck more expensive. But the Costco brand is four times as good!
I think we just found a new “house wine” for mi casa.
Cheers!
Leave a Reply