Isaac Pirolo

9.5

90° at 7pm calls for more Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
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Cloudy Bay was founded in 1985 by David Hohnen of Margaret River’s Cape Mentelle along with its first winemaker, Kevin Judd, who would go on to spend 25 years there before creating his own label, Greywacke. Judd is widely considered as the pioneer responsible for elevating New Zealand wine to its current status. Judd also happens to be one of the best wine photographers in the world (I highly recommend his ‘The Landscape of New Zealand Wine’).
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According to Master of Wine Bob Campbell “the genesis for Greywacke Wild Sauvignon was Cloudy Bay Te Koko; a funky, barrel-fermented sauvignon blanc that bent all the rules when it was made in 1992 and initially sold only through the cellar door. Greywacke Wild Sauvignon is a blend from 10 different Marlborough vineyards which are machine-harvested at night. After pressing the juice is settled before being pumped into mostly old barrels and fermented using indigenous yeasts (about 15-20 different strains). The wine undergoes a partial malolactic fermentation and lees stirring.”
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Incredible aromatics... an almost vibrant herbaceousness... red bell pepper, grapefruit zest, tangerine, apricot, and cucumber, with a silky smooth mouthfeel unlike most Sauvignon Blancs. Extraordinary. — 7 years ago

Paul Mabray

Founder VinTank

8.9

Kevin Judd can make wine. Chardonnay with hints of smoke and flint. Great expression of Marlborough Chardonnay. — 9 years ago

with Angelica

Matt Little

9.2

Thanks for the excellent wine, Kevin! — 9 years ago

Evelyn Marin

9.6

Fascinatingly complex. Paired surprisingly well with the subtle yet remarkable Japanese cuisine of Chef Kevin Cory. — 10 years ago

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

8.9

Very young. Big juicy Grenache fruit are in abundance. Give this one a couple of years. — 10 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.0

Kevin Judd's 2013 is an elegant number, not overripe peardrops (like so many NZ can be) but lightly creamy, leesy, white flowers with white peach, coxs apple. Light phenolics balanced with good acidity and texture. Slight smidgen of residual sugar also supports harmony. Well made — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.3

We paired this with country ribs drenched in a smoky BBQ sauce. And while I've never made ribs nor tasted this wine, all I can say is...I was transported to scenes From House of Cards, where Kevin Spacey plays the excellent, if slightly sociopathic character of Frank Underwood, Democratic Majority Whip. This wine is brazen, ballsy and complex, with notes of eucalyptus, smoke, preserved meat, asphalt, ox blood, grit and conspiracy. Rich, brooding and as well-developed as a riveting story, the Cimicky will suck you in. — 11 years ago

Jody Brix Towe

Owner/Winemaker j.brix Wines

9.8

Big thanks to Kevin Law for this beauty. — 12 years ago

Cara Strong

10

Had at dinner with Nat and Kevin. steak with feta topping — 12 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.2

Another winner from Greywacke, Kevin Judd sources his Pinot Noir from the more clay-dominant Southern Valleys. The wine finds a more exotic profile for Pinot - macerated blood orange peel and pomegranate meet a dizzying array of spices and herbs - curry, saffron, smoke, spearmint, and thyme. Savory, well structured, and long. — 7 years ago

Blake Motley

9.4

Outstanding!! Thanks for the great bottle, Kevin! — 8 years ago

with Kevin and Shannon

Rob Mayes

9.0

Lots of ocean air minerality and oyster shell. Sweet spice. Bit sweeter than I would like but nice componentry. — 8 years ago

David Noone

8.9

Hat tip @Kevin Woods on the recommendation — 9 years ago

Jonathan Patch

9.2

Happy birthday Kevin! — 10 years ago

with Kevin

Morgan Diamant

9.7

Beautiful finesse Bordeaux. Rich and flavorful and silky smooth. had at UG after a Brunello tasting with TJ and Kevin. after a few more years of aging this should be truly remarkable — 10 years ago

Kecia Bird

9.0

Kecia had this 10 years ago

Filippo Calabresi

Winemaker Tenimenti d'Alessandro

10

all what I expect from a grand white: slight but fun oxidation, radiant acidity, great texture for an enchanting aromatic kaleidoscope of flowers, minerals and tropical ripe fruit.
thanks for all Kevin and keep going, keep on rocking in the free wine world. — 11 years ago

Denis Roudenko

9.0

17/20 (93/100) — 11 years ago

David Madison

9.7

Suggested by the wine steward as part of a tasting of several bottles. Really good. Debi, Kevin and I really liked it. — 12 years ago

Lindsay Murray

9.4

New Year’s Eve Dinner with Kevin & Sarah — 7 years ago

with Chad

Anthony Lombardi

9.3

I really enjoyed the Southern Rhone style blend from this producer’s 2015 vintage. That said, I’m enjoying the Syrah even more. This shows amazing texture & nuance to add complexity to the dark fruit. The nose in particular shows savory, almost olive brine character to match the summer blackberries. Beautiful wine- a producer well worth checking out! — 8 years ago

ADAM STROMFELD

9.5

Soft and still full of life. Elegant stewed prunes well balanced dances on your tongue. Amazing this is 47 years old!!! Happy birthday Kevin!! — 8 years ago

with Kevin

Robert Mackie

9.9

Outstanding Chardonnay but a bit pricey! — 9 years ago

Dawn Bongiovanni

9.2

Had with Kevin — 10 years ago

Paco Suro

9.4

Young. Really approachable. Always awesome. Thanks Kevin! — 10 years ago

Mark Wong

9.1

Kevin the winemaker mixes fruit from different vineyards but always insist on 100% of the varietal. 100% cab. Great bottle of wine — 10 years ago

Julia van der Vink

Production Forlorn Hope Winery

9.3

With a few more years of vine age, will be one of the best chards in SA. Kevin Grant, doing it right. — 10 years ago

Marissa Stockton

9.1

Great body and color! — 11 years ago

Joshua Holt

10

Another Uncle Kevin wine. Excellent! — 11 years ago

Tara Miller

9.5

Incredible wine! Had it at the Cliff House with Kevin. — 12 years ago