Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018
-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Enjoy with keta salmon maki and asparagus with balsamic vinaigrette.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
In another tricky vintage, the team at Cloudy Bay has turned out one of their best recent efforts. The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc boasts notes of gooseberries and pineapple up front, and shows lovely harmony and roundness on the palate. It's medium-bodied and easy to drink, with hints of nectarine and pink grapefruit joining in on the creamy-textured palate and long, silky finish.
-
James Suckling
This iconic Marlborough sauvignon is in full tropical-fruit mode in 2018, bursting with passion fruit and limes, as well as sweet melon and peaches. The palate is packed with flavor. Passion fruit and mango rule the finish. Drink now.
Other Vintages
2023-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James
-
Spectator
Wine - Vinous
-
Suckling
James
-
Spectator
Wine - Decanter
-
Suckling
James
-
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Spirits
Wine & -
Suckling
James
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Wong
Wilfred -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spirits
Wine &
-
Spectator
Wine -
Spirits
Wine &
-
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
Cloudy Bay Vineyards, established in 1985, is today a partnership between champagne house Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin and co-founder of Cape Mentelle Vineyards in Western Australia, David Hohnen. The Cloudy Bay team is committed to producing 'wines of region' and strives to enhance the pure, bracing flavors naturally afforded by the climate and soils of Marlborough. The winery and vineyards are 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.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
An icon and leading region of New Zealand's distinctive style of Sauvignon blanc, Marlborough has a unique terroir, making it ideal for high quality grape production (of many varieties). Despite some common generalizations, which could be fairly justified given that Marlborough is responsible for 90% of New Zealand's Sauvignon blanc production, the wines from this region are actually anything but homogenous. At the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, the vineyards of Marlborough benefit from well-draining, stony soils, a dry, sunny climate and wide temperature fluctuations between day and night, a phenomenon that supports a perfect balance between berry ripeness and acidity.
The region’s king variety, Sauvignon blanc, is beloved for its pungent, aromatic character with notes of exotic tropical fruit, freshly cut grass and green bell pepper along with a refreshing streak of stony minerality. These wines are made in a wide range of styles, and winemakers take advantage of various clones, vineyard sites, fermentation styles, lees-stirring and aging regimens to differentiate their bottlings, one from one another.
Also produced successfully here are fruit-forward Pinot noirs (especially where soils are clay-rich), elegant Riesling, Pinot gris and Gewürztraminer.