Grape

Sauvignon Blanc

Its Origins

Established in 1985 by Cape Mentelle, Cloudy Bay Vineyards is situated in the Wairau Valley in Marlborough at the northern end of New Zealand’s South Island. This unique and cool wine region enjoys a maritime climate with the longest hours of sunshine of any place in New Zealand. Cloudy Bay has estate vineyards located at prime sites within the Wairau Valley, and long-term supply agreements with five Wairau Valley growers. The main varieties grown are sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and pinot noir with lesser quantities of gewurztraminer, Riesling, and pinot gris.

What The Critics Say

95/100 Bob Campbell MW

"Hand-picked, fermented in French oak barrels using indigenous yeasts and lengthy barrel age on the lees, with a partial malolactic fermentation. Rich, textural wine with real weight and viscosity. It's less about varietal character and more about barrel age, bready yeast lees and savoury development. A complex and very appealing wine 09 JUL 2018." Drink 2018 - 2022

93/100 Huon Hooke

"Youthful, light to mid-straw colour with an oatmealy, cashew-nutty bouquet, showing sweet tropical fruit nuances as well. Feijoa, passionfruit and spicy oak. A pungent fruit-plus spicy oak NZ style. 16 OCT 2019." Drink 2019 - 2024

93/100 Parker's Wine Advocate, Joe Czerwinski

"As more wineries have adopted this style of Sauvignon Blanc, Te Koko isn't the standout wine it once was. That doesn't mean it's not still excellent. The 2015 Te Koko offers pungency and passion fruit on the nose, followed by a wine of great concentration and intensity. Hints of struck flint add complexity, while the mouth-filling palate boasts a rich, multilayered texture and a lingering finish. Only 8% aged in new French oak and about a third of the wine went through malolactic fermentation, leaving it with crisp acids and a great sense of elegance and balance." Drink 2018 - 2025