In October of this year, Cloudy Bay from New Zealand unveiled two exceptional wines, the ‘2021 Vintage Sauvignon Blanc’ and the ‘2019 Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc.’ It’s unprecedented for the winery to release two wines simultaneously, both crafted from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety but presented through different winemaking techniques. Each of these classic Sauvignon Blanc wines exhibits its unique charm, showcasing the remarkable philosophy and spirit of the winemaking team. I’m delighted to have been invited to attend this unveiling event as a member of the media.
▼ Connected live with the winery owner, and they also played footage of the vineyards in New Zealand.
Cloudy Bay New Product Launch Event
As a passionate lover of New Zealand white wines, I was honored to attend this new product launch event. The organizers treated us, the media, to a fine dining experience, featuring a main course of deep-sea bass, a perfect pairing with Cloudy Bay New Zealand white wines.
Due to the pandemic situation at the time, winery representatives couldn’t be physically present to introduce the wines. Instead, we had a live online connection where they showcased their wines and even provided a virtual tour of their vineyards in New Zealand.
▼ Many well-known figures from the wine industry and major news media were present at the event.
We tasted a total of three classic Sauvignon Blancs, the first two being from Cloudy Bay with different vintages (2020 and 2021), and the latter being Tekoko.
▼ The internationally acclaimed new product launch also featured pan-seared deep-sea fish for the guests, perfectly complementing the three outstanding Sauvignon Blancs presented at the event, showcasing the full flavour profile of Cloudy Bay!
About Cloudy Bay
Founded in 1985, Cloudy Bay is one of the earliest established wineries in Marlborough, New Zealand. Established by owner David Hohnen, the winery played a significant role in positioning New Zealand as a renowned wine producer in the “New World.” Dedicated to upholding quality and capturing the vibrant and unique flavors of Marlborough, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from select grapes sourced from nine different vineyard sites within the region. The winery insists on manual harvesting during the night to preserve the freshness of the grapes. The grapes undergo low-temperature fermentation in stainless steel tanks, and the winemaker carefully selects wines that best showcase the characteristics of each vineyard block for the final blend. This meticulous process results in bottled wines that retain their rich body, full fruitiness, and showcase the pure and lively flavours of Marlborough. (Source: Press Release)
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2021
In 2021, Cloudy Bay’s white wine production decreased, but it resulted in the creation of high-quality, dream-like grapes. The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc features captivating notes of white peach and subtle guava, presenting a concentrated and intense tropical flavor on the palate, complemented by hints of white floral aromas. At the event, we also had the opportunity to compare it with the 2020 Cloudy Bay, allowing us to discern the climatic changes between the two years. The 2021 Cloudy Bay exhibits a more pronounced and intense aroma, with a rounded and fruit-rich flavor profile. In contrast, the 2020 vintage offers a more restrained character, leaning towards leaner and citrusy notes.
Te Koko
The highly anticipated Te Koko originates from four different vineyard blocks. In its early iteration, Te Koko 1.0 used Sauvignon Blanc as a predominant grape variety, undergoing lees soaking, malolactic fermentation, and maturation in French oak barrels to produce a Sauvignon Blanc with rich woody aromas. Over time, the 2019 Te Koko has evolved to version 3.0, fermenting the wine in concrete egg-shaped fermentation vessels with no dead corners on the inner walls. This process results in a smoother and more supple texture with deep and subtle layers of complexity. The wood notes are delicate, accompanied by a nuanced milky fragrance, followed by the aromatic burst of citrus fruit, creating an excellent balance between mature Flavours and acidity.
Conclusion
I personally love New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc, and the fresh guava flavor with a hint of tropical fruit allure is particularly appealing to me. Especially Cloudy Bay 2021, with its classic aromas and fruity flavors, is incredibly charming. What astonished me even more is this Tekoko, which carries a rich aroma of vanilla cream, reminiscent of toasted buttered bread, accompanied by the sweet fragrance of white flowers and white peach. It glides smoothly on the palate with a lingering finish, tempting my entire taste buds. Paired with the final pan-seared fish fillet, it truly captivates me.
▼ Amazingly, I even encountered my former mentor, Mr. T, who initially sparked my interest in wine through his videos.
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