A well-rounded Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc for 2018

Marlborough, New Zealand-based winery Cloudy Bay has unveiled the latest vintage of its Sauvignon Blanc for 2018.

If there’s one Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand most people have tried in their lifetime, it’s probably a Cloudy Bay.

First established in 1985 by the pioneering David Hohnen – he also helped set up Cape Mentelle in Margaret River and today is behind Margaret River cult icon McHenry Hohnen – Cloudy Bay was one fo the first five wineries to be established in New Zealand’s Marlborough, today regarded as one of the finest winemaking regions especially for New Zealand-style Sauvignon Blanc. And Cloudy Bay itself? Perhaps New Zealand’s most recognised winery.

Cloudy Bay’s 2018 vintage for its Sauvignon Blanc, like the ones that preceded it, is vinified from fruit sourced from its vineyards located in the heart of the Wairau Valley in Marlborough, surrounding around the Cloudy Bay winery itself. The 2018 growing season began well with near perfect conditions and no frost, while a warm and dry December encouraged good potential crop levels.

In 2018, Cloudy Bay became foundation members of Appellation Marlborough Wine, an organisation designed to protect the integrity, authenticity and brand value of wines produced in Marlborough. Sauvignon made under the AMW banner must be 100% from Marlborough, be made from lower-yielding vines, and be made and bottled in New Zealand.

That warmth does show through the wine; while 2018 wasn’t as dry as the 2016 season, the new vintage is also similarly fruit-forward with notes of citrus, kaffir lime, passionfruit and white peach. Minerality takes a little of a backseat here – unlike the bracing 2017 vintage – with a decent backbone of acidity to balance the succulent fruit and ensuring a suitably vibrant finish.

“In 2018, we have made a wine that tells the story of our vineyards, our culture and that quality of our fruit. There are challenges in any year, but we have learned over many years that focus in the vineyard is the key to a delicious wine,” says Jim White, Technical Director of Cloudy Bay.

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 is available at leading fine wine retailers and stockists at varying prices.