Very pale yellow-straw color; tropical fruit, grapefruit, passionfruit, cut grass on the nose; tropical fruit, passionfruit, melon, white citrus, green apple, some herbaceousness on the palate.
This is significantly more lush and mouth-filling than entry level KC sauv blancs; vibrant with some weight and complex cascade of flavors, especially in the intriguing middle. The long finish delivers lemon, minerals, and green vegetables. Very tangy acidity (3.17 pH) without sharp edges, bone dry, crisp, no oak, medium body.
Small Parcels are Kim Crawford’s premier sauv blancs, made only in years of superior vintage. Spitfire draws its name from site in Marlborough used an an air force training base in Central Wairau during World War II; located in the Blind River subregion, south of Awatere Valley, one of the premier sites in Marlborough. The Spitfire effort is significantly different from the standard KC effort—more vivid throughout, especially with the green vegetable riffs. Standard KC offerings are great values, but somewhat predictable as a large-production, quality sauv blanc. This is their OMG offering. You will confront flavors here you did not anticipate in the Marlborough sauv blanc. $21-26
Second photo: Kim Crawford vineyard
