The following emerged as the best values, or offering fine style for a higher price, in tasting some 50 Sauvignon Blanc wines over the past three months. Wines were purchased from online flash sale merchants, big box stores and local shops and grocery stores.

  • Good $10 Monterey County Sauvignon Blanc ’17 Ryder Estate. Sharp mid-gold; wet straw, citrus, floral nose; light-mid body; decent acids; semi-long semi-crisp fruity finish. w/appetizers.
  • Easy sipping Napa Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Fly By Wines Reserve $11. Sharp mid straw-gold; herbaceous, citrus, clove nose; soft acids; short fruity finish. w/appetizers, munchies.
  • Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc $11. Sharp mid-green gold; light citrus, straw, floral nose; mid-body; soft acids; long smooth fruit finish (hint of residual sugar?). Easy drinking party, picnic, reception wine.

    Ferrari-Carano Fume

  • Fine value in Calif. Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Hanna $12. Sharp mid-straw gold; citrus, grapefruit, straw and persimmon nose; mid-body; good acids; long semi-crisp fruity finish. w/clams, shrimp.
  • $12 NZ Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Mt. Beautiful North Canterbury. Sharp mid-gold; big varietal nose; tropical, herbaceous, citrus, boxwood; good depth; long semi-crisp fruity finish (13.0 alc.).
  • $16 California Sauvignon Blanc 2016 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar, R Collection Lot No. 4. Sharp mid-green gold; light straw, herbaceous, flinty nose; mid-body; decent acids; short soft fruity finish. Improved with time in the glass.
  • 2016 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Sauvignon Blanc North Coast $16. Sharp mid-green gold; light straw and citrus nose; floral; mid-body; balanced; softening acids; hint of residual sugar (?); easy sipping picnic, party, appetizer wine.
  • Fine Martinborough NZ (not Marlborough) Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Craggy Range Single Vineyard Te Muna Road Vineyard $17. Sharp light-mid green-gold; refined varietal nose; light straw, persimmons, citrus; balanced, softening acids; mid-body; long smooth fruit finish. w/shrimp, clams.
  • $18 Napa Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Freemark Abbey. Sharp light-mid gold; Graves-like nose; light citrus; boxwood; clove; mid-soft body; balanced; a little short, but opens with air. w/appetizers.
  • 2016 Eisele Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Altagracia $39. From cellar. The nose keeps evolving (clove, citrus, boxwood, new mown hay); balanced; nice style and structure; long semi-lush finish. w/grilled halibut and Manila clams.

Craggy Range Martinborough