The 100 is on hiatus so it’s time to indulge my other interests! Black Girls Wine is hosting a challenge with the goal of trying out at least two new wines per week. Each week has a theme and this week was New Wine Maker. For my two wines, I went with two popular winemakers to see if they were worth the hype. Let’s jump in!
Wine 1: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
Demographics. Grown and produced in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, 13.0% alcohol, screwcap closure. The tasting notes describe tropical fruit and fresh-cut grass on the nose and passionfruit, citrus, and ripe stone fruit on the palate. I got the 375 ml for $7.99 at Ralphs.
Why I chose it. I first tried a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in the spring and I really enjoyed it. I had heard good things about the Kim Crawford label so I was inclined to see what the fuss was. A while back, their commercials were airing like 50 times a day! That’s Yellowtail level exposure!
My tasting notes. The photo doesn’t quite capture it but the wine had a straw yellow color. The Sauvignon Blancs I have had in the past, including the New Zealand one I had back in the spring, were more of a pale yellow. I got tropical fruit (pineapple/mango?) and a hint of citrus on the nose. I did not get the fresh-cut grass described on the bottle. On the palate, I got lemon with a touch of tropical fruit and moderate acidity. The lemon flavor and acidity linger on the finish. This wine is dry but the tropical fruit aroma brings a touch of sweetness.
Food pairing. I will preface this by saying that food and wine pairing isn’t my strong suit. I tend to miss most of the time! I don’t always know what I’m doing. Anyway, I paired this with pasta with white wine sauce. The sauce contained both lemon juice and lemon zest which played up the citrus notes and the acidity in the wine. Maybe a little too much! The tropical notes that make Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs unique were lost. That’s unfortunate! The tropical notes are the best part! Anyway, I think white fish would pair well with this wine. Maybe a slightly sweet orange sauce would allow the tropical notes to shine. Goat cheese is usually a winner with Sauvignon Blancs so I would be curious to see how the Marlborough style would work. Goat cheese can be grassy so maybe that would pull out the fresh-cut grass notes described on the bottle.
Would I recommend it? If you’re like me and love acidic wines, you’ll enjoy this one! I would be content sipping this one on its own. For those that hate acid, I’d say pass. The tropical notes make it a little less acidic than European or American Sauvignon Blancs but the citrus is still present. Definitely avoid pairing it with lemony foods! For those on a journey to expand beyond sweet wines, I think this would be a good transition from Riesling. The tropical notes are similar to a Riesling but it’s drier and more acidic.
Wine 2: McBride Sisters Sparkling Brut Rosé
Demographics. Grown and produced in Hawk’s Bay, New Zealand, 13.5% alcohol. Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The tasting notes describe crisp acidity with strawberry and cream, red cherry, and floral aromas. Retails for $21.99 but I found it at Ralphs (Kroger) for $14.27. Good deal! The brand is also the largest black-owned wine company in the United States.
Why I chose it. So, I’ve been meaning to try McBride Sisters wine for a while now. They have been getting a ton of exposure this summer thanks to the push to amplify black winemakers. Even before that, I had been hearing a lot about how good their wines are. They are in major stores but not ones I frequent just yet. Anyway, their story is really interesting. Robin and Andréa grew up in Monterey, CA, and Marlborough, New Zealand, respectively, and had no idea the other existed for 16 years! They connected over a passion for wine and started the McBride Sisters Wine Company. Talk about serendipity! The Black Girls Wine Society happened to be having a guided tasting with their Brut Rosé this week. The perfect excuse to give it a try!
Tasting notes. The wine had a pale peach color. When it comes to sparkling wines, I actually have some trouble picking out specific aromas both on the nose and on the palate. This is definitely a fruit-forward rosé! I got berries on the nose along with a touch of tropical fruit and cream (thanks to the Chardonnay). I detected some mineral and fruity notes on the palate. I would consider it a light-bodied wine with light acidity. The finish is quite short but I could still detect berry and mineral notes.
Food pairing. I ate some Simple Mills Almond Flour crackers during the guided tasting. Nothing of note to report for that pairing as they sort of functioned like saltines. I did drink a little with my leftover white wine pasta but it was a neutral pairing. The meal didn’t ruin the wine but it didn’t bring out anything different either. One of my Black Girls Wine Society sisters suggested pairing it with popcorn. I’ll have to give that a shot at some point. Other than that, cheese would be my thought. There’s a little bit of acidity so the wine might go well with something that’s a little bit fatty.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely! I don’t think I’ve had a truly bad sparkling wine yet! If I did, I blocked it from my memory! Anyway, I think this would be a good choice for people trying to expand their palates from sweet to dry wines. The McBride Sisters Brut Rosé is dry but fruit-forward so it won’t be so jarring to a newer wine drinker. I would be happy to drink this without a specific food pairing in mind.
That concludes Week 1! Until next time!