The Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a $7.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, farmed from estate vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand, and sold in places where Trader Joe’s can sell wine. Some states do not allow wine to be sold in grocery stores, and in those places, this Sauv Blanc sells for $12 to $14 at retail wine shops.
The Sauvignon Republic brand was founded 15 years ago to showcase Sauvignon Blanc wines from different growing regions worldwide. Only the New Zealand Sauvignon Republic seems to remain and has been sold at Trader Joe’s for the last eleven years.
Trader Joe’s says this is an estate-grown wine, and the back label says “produced and bottled for” Sauvignon Republic. The back label typically says “by,” not “for” they name the producer, not the company that had the wine made or purchased it.
Either way, it looks like the Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is farmed and produced by a single New Zealand winery. We do not know which winery and in what section of Marlborough the vineyards are located, but I am willing to overlook the lack of details with an estate-grown and produced wine selling for $7.99. The $12 to $14 price range at retail wine shops sounds suitable for wineries’ base-level estate offering.
I can guess the production details; the wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel vats with relatively minimal winemaking techniques to preserve the characteristics of the vineyards. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Tasting Notes
The color is a very pale golden yellow; it is almost transparent. The nose is pineapple, melon, tropical fruit, very light spice, green apple, and ripe peach; it is less grassy than a typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a well-balanced wine with a full, balanced flavor.
It tastes like a stew of grapefruit, lemonade, and peach, followed by a slap of lime. The mid-palate brings the salty/nutty “on-lees” sensation, along with guava, pear, and Golden delicious apple. The acidity is exceptionally well-controlled.
The Summary
- The Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc 2020 tastes great.
- It does not have the spikey flavor peaks that New Zealand Sauv Blanc can have.
- It’s overall ballance and excellent acidity allow this Sauv Blanc to hit well above its price point at $7.99 and is very competitive at the higher retail wine shop prices.
