Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 327,238 strong:

Register Today!

Kim Crawford Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Wine Review

Kim Crawford Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Kim Crawford Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

Community Score:91/100

Community Reviews: 14

  Add My Review


Price: $24.95

Drink: 2015-2017

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: White Wine


Winery: Kim Crawford

Agent: Arterra Wines Canada Inc.

Natalie's Score: 94/100

So creamy, rich and seductively complex. This is a more richly woven Sauvignon Blanc than the winery's entry-level version. There's a longer pungency and persistence of flavours. Very mouth-filling and luscious with surprising lift and vibrancy. Winemaker Anthony is after more ripe tropical fruit in this expression, such as passion fruit, melon, and guava. So vibrant and expressive with clean slate and white citrus on the finish. Pair with mussels, oysters and scallops.

Sauvignon Blanc food pairings: Margherita pizza, salad, pork, strong cheese.

Vital Vegetarian Pizza Wine

This Kim Crawford Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc 2015 was reviewed on August 4, 2016 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2017  2016  2014  2013 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

  • BCLDB
  • 317560
  • $20.51 
  • Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Colin McKone - Sommelier rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

Strong aromas of passion fruit and pineapple hit you right away followed by lemon, melon and herbaceous notes. It is light bodied with well balanced acidity with lemon and passion fruit flavours on the finish. Will pair well with seafood, soft cheeses, asparagus or green salads. If you like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, you will kicking yourself if you don't try this one.
Sylvain Segard rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

A great Sauvignon Blanc which wakes up your senses. This wine packs intense passion fruit and pineapple aromas and offers a full palette of flavours tropical fruits, melon and herbaceaous flavours. Medium long finish of passion fruit and mouthwatering lasting acidity.
Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Kim Crawford makes this Sauv Blanc from small batches of exceptional grapes; those used to make this SB from a site used during WW2 as air force training base. Refreshing nose shows herbaceous, citrus and tropical fruit, while the palate has grassy, citrus lemon and ripe tropical guava and pineapple. Crisp, extra-dry, good acidity with a lingering tart finish.
Tasted July 2016
Craig Kuziemsky rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Herb, grass and tropical fruit aromas with citrus and pineapple flavors really coming out on the palate. Great acidity and would pair well with shellfish.
Nick Onischuk - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

The Kim Crawford Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc 2015 is a must try for those who love this varietal. Beautiful aromas and flavours of passion fruit, lemongrass, melon. Tasted September 2016 (92/100)
Heather Wall - CS; WSET Advanced rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Loved the expression of this Sauvignon Blanc. A little less herbal with lots more tropical. This Kim Crawford won't disappoint the ardent SB fans though. There's still zippy acidity, fresh grass and gooseberry but layered with guava, passion fruit,pineapple, honeydew melon, and some soothing honey richness. The length is long, fresh and smooth. Bring on grilled seafood or perhaps a seafood chowder, baked clams. Loved it.
Tasted: September 2016
Jennifer Havers - WSET Level 3 rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

If you love NZ Sauvignon Blanc, this is definitely one to try! Beautiful aromas are layered in this wine, from lush tropical notes (melon, pineapple, passionfruit) to citrus (lemon zest, lime) to a subtle herbaceous note. This wine had a more creamy texture than I was expecting, but was still dry on the palate, and was balanced beautifully with some refreshing acidity and a lingering finish. Loved it! A go-to wine for fresh steamed mussels or other seafood.
Jon Steeves - Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Kim Crawford's spitfire Sauvignon Blanc is a wine which commands attention, and gets exactly that… from the winemaking team. This wine is composed of 70% Blind River fruit and small parcel lots grown in East West Rows to ensure even ripening. Beautiful on the pallet and the nose, this wine offers Marlborough typicity with an elegant and unique expression of Kim Crawford's best. Gooseberry, fresh herbs, minerality, citrus peel and a hint of tropical fruit. A great find. @jonsteeves rated 91/100 - tasted Sept 2016
Carola Price rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Pow! The nose is full of melon, grass, lime peel, kiwi. In the mouth it is more tropical fruit with lots of citrus to keep you interested. Medium bodied and a great example of higher end NZ Sauvignon Blanc. Pair this with grilled tiger shrimp, halibut and red snapper with lots of herbs and lemon pepper. Grilled veggies with goat cheese works beautifully here. Drink now to 2 years
Melanie Aubert rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

The epitome of a Marlborough sauvignon blanc. Concentrated passion fruit, guava, lime and minerality. Delicious! If you love the regular KC sauvignon blanc, treat yourself to this one. What a beautiful expression of the varietal! Well done.

Get the whole story at https://winingwithmel.com/2016/09/19/kim-crawford/.
Dianne Sheridan - Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This 2015 Sauvignon Blanc delivers with a bang notes of grapefruit, mineral, herbs, tropical fruits and pineapple. It is aromatic and sends a punch of lime and citrus on the palate. Packed with flavour and a luscious, long, lingering finish. Not your typical Sauvignon Blanc.

Enjoy with green salads, fish, goat cheese, shellfish.
Claria Calderone rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Its a powerful wine in taste for my liking, however its subtle and soft. I sensed hints of fruitful guava, which I loved. I would enjoy it as an after dinner wine.
This 2015 vintage New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc starts with soft tropical fruit, followed by dried green herbs. Each vintage, Kim Crawford selects the best grapes from its best small parcels among its vineyards. Spitfire derives its name from the iconic site in Marlborough that was an air force base during World War II, but is now planted with vines. - Community Wine Review

If you liked the Kim Crawford Spitfire Sauvignon Blanc 2015, you might also like these wines:

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Small Gully Red Wine
Shiraz 2019,
Barossa Valley, South Australia ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 327,238 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  

337,668

WINE
REVIEWS

327,238

ACTIVE
MEMBERS
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award