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may 2018 / the tasting panel / 43 With a suggested retail price of $25, the Signature Reserve Sauvignon Blanc appeals to "trade-up" consum- ers already familiar with the Kim Crawford brand while also attracting luxury shoppers who seek a fresh and compelling entry in their preferred price range. "A Deeper Dive" The new Signature Reserve Sauvignon Blanc builds on the 20-plus- year legacy of the Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which assisted in establishing Marlborough— located on the northernmost tip of New Zealand's South Island—as an internationally-renowned winegrow- ing region. The benchmark wine also helped define the style of crisp, racy Sauvignon Blanc that would become a New Zealand trademark to palates around the globe. "The Kim Crawford Signature Reserve is a deeper dive into what Kim Crawford does best: delicious, high-quality New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc," says Anthony Walkenhorst, Kim Crawford's Chief Winemaker since 2010. "There's a strong movement in the U.S., and around the world, of con- sumers buying higher-end wines for every occasion, from relaxing at home to bringing a bottle to a celebration. The Kim Crawford Signature Reserve Sauvignon Blanc provides loyal Kim Crawford drinkers with an opportunity to explore a more luxury version of the brand while furthering their explora- tion of Marlborough." Vineyard Matters Marlborough is responsible for put- ting New World Sauvignon Blanc on the world map, so selecting the region's best vineyard parcels for the new Signature Reserve Sauvignon Blanc was no simple feat. "We considered a wide range of viticultural factors, including soil, sun exposure, and ocean winds, to ensure that we sourced the highest quality fruit that would give us the intensity of flavor we were looking for," Walkenhorst says. The initial vintage was drawn from the Springfields and Steam Wharf vineyards, which are located in the lower Wairau Valley. "This valley's coastal climate keeps the vineyards frost-free and helps fruit ripen slowly, while its rich, fertile soils produce healthy canopies that drive powerful flavors into the grapes," Walkenhorst explains. "We'll reassess small-lot sourcing each year, ensuring that only the highest-performing vineyards of any given vintage make it into our next luxury Sauvignon Blanc bottling." The full potential of high-quality fruit would be squandered if not for meticu- lous care in the cellar, and this steadfast attention to detail serves to distinguish the new tier from its sibling Sauvignon Blanc in the core Kim Crawford Marlborough range. "Fermentation was long, slow, and cool, with [Zymaflore] X5 yeast selected for the process to express the wine's grapefruit and passionfruit flavors and aromas," notes Walkenhorst. "After fermentation con- cluded, we tasted through the lots and further narrowed down the selection to get the very best wine for the 2017 Signature Reserve bottling." Deep Experience, Rich Palate Compared to Kim Crawford's core Sauvignon Blanc, the Signature Reserve offers a rounder, more fruit-forward expression of New Zealand's signature white varietal. With its rich palate and intense tropical fruit aromas, the wine "pairs perfectly with dishes such as seafood risotto with mussels or a spinach and goat cheese salad," says Walkenhorst, for whom "trading up" refers not just to price point, but to flavor as well. "We're thrilled to be utiliz- ing our deep experience in New Zealand's Marlborough region to bring this new luxury Sauvignon Blanc to Kim Crawford fans everywhere," he adds. PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM CRAWFORD Chief Winemaker Anthony Walkenhorst selects grapes in New Zealand's Wairau Valley for the new Kim Crawford Signature Reserve Sauvignon Blanc.