For those who have not been exposed to the wines of New Zealand’s Cloudy Bay, you are missing a real treat, especially for those white wine lovers. Cloudy Bay’s Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are superb.
Last Thursday, Cloudy Bay enamored Los Angeles with a launch party showing off the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, which will be released on October 1, 2013. The event took place in the hills of Beverly Hills. The private secluded setting surrounded by Palm trees offered magnificent views of the Los Angeles skyline, a perfect fit for showcasing the wines, especially the crisp refreshing whites that seem befitting to a balmy Los Angeles day.
Sauvignon Blanc
In the United States, Cloudy Bay is known for its Sauvignon Blancs, and internationally this happens to be their most popular wine. After drinking this wine, one will definitely see why this wine is such a hit for Cloudy Bay.
The Sauvignon Blanc displayed a grassy aroma, yet the wine was crisp refreshing with flavors of citrus and a hint of spice. One does not detect the grassy aromas in the flavors of the wine. There is a texture to the wine that really makes the wine stand out. The wine ferments primarily in stainless steel with a small percentage fermenting in old oak barrels at a warmer temperature.
Cloudy Bay also produces a Sauvignon Blanc called Te Koko. This 2010 Te Koko is a fuller and creamier wine compared to the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is also oakier. It is more typical of the Sauvignon Blancs you would find in the Santa Ynez.
Te Koko Sauvignon BlancChardonnay
Cloudy Bay also produces Chardonnay and soon to be released for the first time in the United States, Pinot Noir.
The 2011 Chardonnay is created in the Burgundian style, which I found very refreshing with a nice balance of acid and minerality. One immediately tastes citrus, but it gives way to stonefruit. For a Chardonnay, this wine is very complex with texture and body. Winemaker Tim Heath describes the wine as “ fresh and lively.” There is no question that this wine fits Heath’s description.
Pinot Noir
Cloudy Bay offers two Pinot Noirs. The 2011 Pinot Noir is a lighter, more delicate wine. It exudes red and black fruits, especially berries, with a slight hint of pepper on the finish. I consider this wine more feminine in quality. The 2010 Te Wahi delivers a more masculine fuller-bodied Pinot Noir with hints of dark berries. This wine is more complex with layers of spice as compared to the 2011 Pinot Noir.
Cloudy Bay Pinot NoirOne cannot go wrong with any of the wines from Cloudy Bay. Your own palate will decide which wines are your favorites.
Cloudy Bay is an excellent representation of what New Zealand has to offer in wines.
As Cloudy Bay’s website says, “ Naturally vibrant, preciously shared”, which is an accurate statement of what one has to look forward to when sipping the wines from Cloudy Bay.
Note: Common to the wine industry, this writer enjoyed a hosted wine event. While it has not influenced this review, the writer believes in full disclosure.