Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2023 75 cl. 13.5%

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2024 is intense and juicy with subtle notes of passion fruit, citrus, white stone fruit, makrut lime, pink peppercorn, hibiscus and pink grapefruit. A fresh, salty edge and tart lemon flavor provide a long and complex finish. Elegant and subdued nose with citrus, lime leaves, apricot and orange blossom.

The growing season started cool and unsettled, with sharp frosts during flowering. This resulted in a lower than average harvest. However, as summer arrived, things quickly turned dry – in fact, Marlborough experienced its driest 10 months since records began, and drought was declared in mid-March.

The low soil moisture meant that the vines were almost entirely dependent on regular watering throughout the summer. Despite the challenges of frost and drought, the sunny days and cool nights from late February contributed to a perfect acidity balance and an early harvest time.

The fruit was in absolute top shape, which gave plenty of time to carefully assess each vineyard and ensure that the grapes achieved their full potential before harvest.

This Sauvignon Blanc is made primarily from grapes from the Wairau Valley, where the sunny climate and well-draining gravelly soils are ideal for this grape variety. The primary vineyards include Estate, Motukawa, Widow's Block, Red Shed and Mustang.

After harvest, the must was cold-clarified, then racked and fermented with selected yeasts. The majority was fermented in stainless steel tanks, while approximately 1.5% was fermented at higher temperatures in large oak barrels. Some was fermented with wild yeast to add texture and complexity. Only the best batches were selected for the final blend – in 2024, 81 different batches were evaluated, of which 55 were used.