Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Reviews for the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Bob Campbell, MW (The Real Review): 95/100 & Top Rank. Crisp, uncompromisingly dry sauvignon blanc with lemongrass, saline/oyster shell, red capsicum and pineapple flavours. Intense, vibrant wine that lives up to its exalted reputation.

Michael Cooper: 25 Not-to-be-missed New Zealand Wines. On sale around the world, New Zealand’s most internationally acclaimed wine is produced in greater volumes than the total output of many of this country’s middle-sized wineries. Cloudy Bay, established in Marlborough in 1985, is now part of the Louis Vuitton Moët-Hennessy luxury goods empire. A refined, weighty wine with deep, ripely herbaceous flavours, it’s a more subtle and sophisticated, less aggressive style than most of its competitors, showing impressive complexity, texture and length. For downright drinkability, it’s hard to beat.

Tasting note

The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc has an enticing nose, with appealing aromas of ripe honeydew melon, passionfruit and vibrant citrus. The palate is concentrated and elegant, with hints of fresh sea air balancing out the warmth of the ripe fruit notes at the wine’s core. Subtle tropical fruit characters are underpinned by freshening notes of lime, lemongrass, Meyer lemon and a touch of grapefruit skin.

Aromas and flavours:

Additional information

Type: White wine

Varial: Sauvignon Blanc

Food match: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is a natural match for almost any seafood. Some of our favourites at the winery include tempura oysters, locally-caught sashimi, and steamed mussels with garlic, citrus and parsley. It’s also a great match for green salads and goats’ cheese. A hint from us: if it goes with lemon, it goes with Sauvignon Blanc.

Alcohol: 13% vol

Total acidity: 7.3 g/l

Residual sugar: 1.29 g/l

Bottle size: 0.75l

Notice: contains sulphites

Vineyard: Marlborough, New Zealand. Cloudy Bay's Sauvignon Blanc fruit comes largely from vineyards planted in Wairau Valley’s Rapaura, Renwick and Brancott Valley sub-regions. The area's warm, dry maritime climate and free-draining gravelly soils are perfect for Sauvignon Blanc. Key blocks include the Estate, Motukawa, Widow's Block, Red Shed, and Mustang vineyards.

Winemaking: Fruit from each vineyard ferments separately before blending, a critical step in maintaining Cloudy Bay’s famous consistency. Rather than blending to make more wine, the winemakers carefully select the right grapes (from over 90 batches) for each year’s wine. This means the quantity may change, but never the quality.

Cellar potential: 2026+

Closure: Screw cap

Produced and bottled by: Cloudy Bay Vineyards Limited, P.O. Box 376, 230 Jacksons Rd, Blenheim 7240, New Zealand