The Raorao Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is available exclusively at Trader Joe’s for $5.99. It is sourced from vineyards in the Marlborough district in the northern part of New Zealand’s South Island, which accounts for 2/3rds of New Zealand’s wine output.
The Story
The story is that there isn’t much of a story. The Raorao brand was last seen at Trader Joe’s in 2017 or 2018, I somehow missed it since we never reviewed the wine. It was a $4.99 wine back then.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is a vineyard-to-bottle wine. The winemaking process is fairly simple, but there are choices for the winemaker to make. Which yeast or combination of yeasts, and at what temperature, to start fermentation? I may be simplifying the process, but not by much.
The value-priced Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is almost always fermented and aged in stainless steel vats. Aging is typically short just enough for the flavors and acidity to balance. If you have grapes from quality vineyards, most of the work is done.
Marlborough’s vineyards are located near the coast of its valleys and bays. The cool weather allows the grapes to fully ripen.
Trader Joe’s didn’t offer any clues to the production of this wine, but wines sourced from a wide variety of locations are often very affordable and of good quality.
The alcohol content for the Raorao Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is 12.8%.
The Raorao Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is almost clear with a hint of gold. The nose is citrus, tropical fruit, apple, grapefruit, peach, grassy, with spice and lime. The Raorao Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is light to medium-bodied and not shy on flavor.
The Sauvignon Blanc tastes like grapefruit mixed with peach, tart apple, pear, a slap of interesting spice, tropical fruit, nectarine, and a salty sensation.
The acidity is well-controlled.
The Summary
- The Raorao Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is a bargain at $5.99.
- A quality 6-buck summer wine is a wine that you should buy in quantity.
- It will pair with fancy salads and light seafood, and it will hit the spot on a summer’s day or night.
Where might I purchase this wine, since Trader Joe’s does not have it.
It looks like the Roaroa Sauv Blanc is an exclusive Trader Joe’s wine in the US.
The last vintage didn’t get released until May of last year, so I would give it a little more time.