Love Block Sauvignon Blanc

Love Block Sauvignon Blanc 750ML is a boutique Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc produced by legendary New Zealand winemaker Kim Crawford and his wife Erica Crawford as their personal passion project. After selling the globally recognized Kim Crawford wine brand, the Crawfords launched Love Block to focus on single-vineyard, small-production wines from the Awatere Valley sub-region of Marlborough. The name itself refers to their favorite vineyard block — the one they fell in love with — and the wine reflects a more focused, terroir-driven style than most mass-market New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs.

Tasting Notes:

Aroma: Bright and lifted on the nose, with immediate passionfruit and grapefruit zest followed by secondary layers of fresh-cut herbs, white nectarine, and crushed river stone. The Awatere Valley's cooler climate and stony soils contribute a distinctive mineral edge that sets these aromatics apart from warmer Wairau Valley expressions.

Taste: The palate opens with taut citrus acidity — lime and pink grapefruit dominate the entry. Mid-palate brings riper tropical notes of guava and passionfruit alongside a textured, almost chalky minerality. The mouthfeel carries moderate weight without losing the razor-sharp focus that defines quality Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Finish: Medium-length with lingering citrus pith and a subtle herbaceous quality reminiscent of lemongrass and fresh basil. A clean, dry close with no residual sweetness and a saline undertone that invites another sip.

How to Serve Love Block Sauvignon Blanc:

Serve chilled between 45–50°F in a standard white wine glass to preserve aromatic intensity; avoid over-chilling, which mutes the tropical character. Love Block Sauvignon Blanc is a natural match for seafood platters — its acidity and minerality cut beautifully through oysters, ceviche, and herb-crusted fish. For warm-weather entertaining, it works as a vibrant aperitif poured generously before a meal. A tulip-shaped glass will concentrate the aromatics better than a wide-bowled option.

Food Pairings:

The bright acidity and herbal profile make this wine exceptionally versatile at the table. Try it alongside fresh goat cheese salad with citrus vinaigrette, pan-seared scallops with herb butter, Thai green papaya salad, grilled prawns with chimichurri, or a classic New Zealand green-lipped mussel preparation. It also pairs well with lighter vegetarian dishes like asparagus risotto or zucchini fritters with lemon aioli.

Best For:

• Seafood dinners and summer entertaining
• Discovering premium New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc beyond mainstream labels
• Gifting to wine lovers who appreciate boutique producers
• Pairing with goat cheese, shellfish, and herb-forward dishes

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does Love Block Sauvignon Blanc taste like? Love Block Sauvignon Blanc delivers concentrated passionfruit, grapefruit, and guava flavors with a mineral backbone and crisp, dry finish. It has more structure and complexity than typical everyday New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs.

How does Love Block Sauvignon Blanc compare to Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc? Both originate from Marlborough, but Love Block is Kim Crawford's personal, smaller-production project sourced specifically from the Awatere Valley, resulting in more pronounced minerality and intensity. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (the branded label now owned by Constellation Brands) is produced at a much larger scale and tends toward a softer, more fruit-forward profile at a lower price point.

Is Love Block Sauvignon Blanc good for beginners? Absolutely — its vibrant fruit character and clean acidity make it approachable and easy to enjoy, while the added depth and mineral complexity reward more experienced palates as well.

Where is Love Block Sauvignon Blanc made? Love Block Sauvignon Blanc is produced in the Awatere Valley, a sub-region of Marlborough on New Zealand's South Island known for its cooler temperatures, lower rainfall, and stony alluvial soils that stress the vines and concentrate flavors.

What foods pair well with Love Block Sauvignon Blanc? Ideal pairings include fresh oysters on the half shell, goat cheese with herbs, pan-seared scallops, Thai-inspired salads, grilled white fish with lemon and capers, and asparagus-based dishes.

Why Buy Love Block?

Love Block represents the personal winemaking vision of Kim Crawford, one of the most influential figures in New Zealand's modern wine industry. Kim Crawford built one of the country's most recognized Sauvignon Blanc brands before selling it, then returned to winemaking with a focus on quality over volume. Love Block wines are sourced from select vineyard blocks in the Awatere Valley, an area increasingly recognized for producing Marlborough's most structured and mineral-driven whites. For drinkers seeking a step above mass-market New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc without entering ultra-premium territory, Love Block occupies a compelling middle ground backed by decades of winemaking credibility.