Cloudy Bay : Sauvignon Blanc 2021

A balanced and complex New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc by Cloudy Bay

The estate

The Cloudy Bay estate was founded by David Hohnen in 1985 in Marlborough, New Zealand. Surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful scenery between the Pacific Ocean and the Richmond Range, the estate is located at the entrance to eponymous bay. Produced with the utmost respect for the terroir and its environment, each Cloudy Bay wine captures the distinctive expression of a great terroir.

The vineyard

Cloudy Bay's Sauvignon Blanc 2021 stems from estates and vineyards in the Rapaura, Fairhall, Renwick and Brancott sub-regions of the Wairau Valley. The soils include drained, stony and aged alluvial loam that contains some clay.

The vintage

Although the optimal weather conditions at the beginning of the year favoured an early budburst, the months of September and October were marked by cold nights and frosts which, thanks to the estate's protection tools, did not impact the vineyard. The uneven flowering phase, a result of the climatic instability in December, significantly reduced the yields. The optimal temperatures thereafter favoured the even and qualitative ripening of the grapes, that showcased a high levels of acidity. A rich and exceptional vintage. This Cloudy Bay 2021 Sauvignon Blanc is made from a final blend of 87 different plots.

Vinification and ageing

Following the harvests, the free-run juice is cold-decanted, then racked and inoculated with selected yeasts. The majority of the fermentation process is carried out in stainless steel vats and approximately 4% of the blend is aged in old large French oak barrels and vats.

The blend

Sauvignon Blanc (100%)

The tasting

Nose

Intense, fruity (passion fruit, white peach) and lemony (lime) fragrances.

Palate

Concentrated and aromatic, the palate reveals fruity notes (nectarine), floral and citrus aromas. The structure, conferred by delicious saline notes, is combined with a perfect balance of passion fruit and citrus fruit sustained by a beautiful acidity. The finish is rich and persistent.