Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Special Offer. Now £16.95 each (Case of 6 Deal)
Tasting Notes:
Pale straw green in colour and enticingly fragrant, the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc offers lifted aromas of ripe stonefruit and juicy citrus with underlying notes of blackcurrant leaf and tomato plant spice. The palate is fine yet succulent, with zesty citrus flavours and fresh acidity. There is an appealing plushness about this wine especially as it leads into a lingering and characteristically crisp finish.
Cloudy Bay 2011 Harvest:
The Sauvignon Blanc harvest commenced on March 21st under cool yet settled autumn conditions. Consistent with years past, the first fruit was picked from stonier, warmer sites in the Rapaura sub region. Harvest continued steadily over a months time, progressively working through the later ripening sites with the last of the Sauvignon Blanc being harvested on April 20th. Fruit thinning paid off with all but a few blocks of Sauvignon Blanc safely tucked away in the winery when unseasonably heavy rains arrived over the weekend of April 17th. Strict yield management produced fruit of ideal physiological ripeness with an average brix of 22.5.
Food Matches:
Gazpacho, Oysters natural, Goats cheese & fresh strawberries, Greenlip mussels with herb gremolata
Background Information:
Established in 1985 by Kevin Judd and David Hohnen, Cloudy Bay was one of the first vineyards in the Marlborough wine region on New Zealand's South Island, establishing itself as the standard by which all New Zealand wines are judged. Named after the nearby bay whose waters turn cloudy when the Wairau River fills them with silt, Cloudy Bay wines embrace the quintessential expression of the pristine, bracing, pure flavours of New Zealand.
Its reputation and quality helped put New Zealand wines on the global wine map, earning them international prestige. The Cloudy Bay estate enjoys a relatively cool and moderate maritime climate year round, producing one of the world's most refined Sauvignon Blanc wines. The wine made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes express the essence of this unique terroir, infused with notes of fresh melon, passion fruit, pineapple and lemon.
Cloudy Bay strives to preserve the vibrant natural purity and fruit of the Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are harvested at night, so the cool freshness allows the fruit to retain its rich flavours. The wine is then fermented in stainless steel tanks.
The Cloudy Bay range includes Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, the brand's iconic Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc, and Pelorus- an exceptionally elegant sparkling wine.
