Sauvignon Blanc

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.

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.


The iconic wine behind the Cloudy Bay tale

Defined New Zealand's wine and established the Marlborough wine region globally.

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
Marlborough
Vineyards located in the Rapaura, Fairhall, Renwick and Brancott sub-regions of the Wairau Valley
Free-draining gravel based soils with shallow sandy-loam horizons
clear sky
Today
7°C
44°F
Enjoy with
Japan
Keta salmon maki
United States of America
Asparagus with balsamic vinaigrette
See the forage map
Jim White
Technical Director
“We may feel like we were put through the mill during harvest, but you would never know it from the wine in the bottle. The 2020 vintage release is everything a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon should be, concentrated and vibrant, with beautiful citrus and stone fruit characters, but also that certain subtlety and poise that has built its renown around the globe”.
More about Jim White
How it was made


Harvest

The 2020 harvest was completed under the unprecedented conditions of a New Zealand-wide lock-down due to the Coronavirus pandemic. With wineries classified as an essential industry, we were able to bring in this exceptional harvest, while adhering at all times to the strict rules provided by the government regarding social distancing and hygiene. We are incredibly proud of the way in which our staff worked during this challenging time, and wish to take this moment to thank them. 

Vinification

Following the harvest, the free-run juice was cold settled, before racking and inoculation with selected yeast. Fermentation was carried out primarily in stainless steel tanks, with approximately 4% of the blend fermented at warmer temperatures in old French oak barriques and large format oak vats. As usual, our Sauvignon Blanc was blended stringently from 91 different portions to include only the best. The final blend shows an alcohol of 13.2% pH 3.11 TA 7.15g/L RS 2.4g/L 

 

Must know
Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Marlborough
  • For consumption 46°F 50°F
  • Cellaring potential 10Years
    min
  • Alcohol 13.2 %
  • Vintage 2020
  • pH 3.11
  • Varietal Sauvignon Blanc
  • Bottling October 2020
  • Harvest Monday, March 23, 2020 to Sunday, April 12, 2020
  • Residual sugar 2.4 g/L
  • Acid 7.2 g/L
  • Closure Screwcap
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