While mother-nature may not have been our friend in many ways this year, there is no denying that she gave us near­ perfect conditions in our vineyards. While, with the exception of December, it was another dry year in Marlborough, it was not exceptionally hot, which allowed the fruit mature well without any undue stress on the vines. The dry weather was also a godsend for our vineyard team, with little disease pressure to worry about after Christmas. Canopy work was undertaken to ensure the bunches received optimum levels of exposure to allow full flavour development, with the resulting fruit proving concentrated and complex. The harvest, while challenging due to the conditions brought about by the COVID19 pandemic, actually took place in near-perfect weather, with sunny days and cool nights, and plenty of time to pick the fruit at the perfect maturity.

TASTING NOTES:

NOSE: The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc is bright and focused, with appealing and expressive aromatics of ripe grapefruit, makrut lime and passionfruit on the nose.

PALATE: The palate is mouth-watering, with zesty lime, lemongrass and juicy stone fruit characters melding together, underpinned by a subtle minerality. The vibrant concentrated fruit and freshness bestow poise and balance, and lead through to a long and impressive finish, suggesting a wine that will age gracefully for many years – as do all the best Cloudy Bay vintages.