COLOUR
White
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2023
GRAPE
Chardonnay
PRODUCER
Cloudy Bay
REGION
Marlborough
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Medium - Long
Intensity
Mid - Pronounced
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Established in 1985, Cloudy Bay was one of the pioneering wineries of Marlborough, forever changing the global perception of New Zealand wine. While internationally renowned for Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay has spent decades refining its cool-climate Chardonnay. The estate's vineyards are situated in the stony soils of the Wairau Valley, where warm sunny days and cool nights allow the grapes to ripen slowly, preserving their natural acidity and developing complex, concentrated flavor profiles.
ALCOHOL
13.5%
AVG. PRICE
€35
STYLE
Classic
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
10-13°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Cloudy Bay was named by Captain Cook during his voyage to New Zealand in 1770.
Fact 02
This Chardonnay is fermented entirely with wild yeasts to enhance complexity and texture.
Fact 03
The winery was one of the founding members of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The fruit is harvested by hand and gently whole-cluster pressed. The juice is then transferred directly into French oak barrels (approximately 15-20% new) for fermentation using wild, indigenous yeasts. A portion of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity and introduce a creamy texture. The wine is aged on its fine lees for 11 to 12 months, with regular stirring (bâtonnage) to build mid-palate weight, complexity, and structural integration.
