Cloudy Bay Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc Cloudy Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2020

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc, barrel fermented with wild yeasts, oak aged

A sophisticated, unique expression of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Te Koko is the ultimate expression of Cloudy Bay’s character, terroir and winemaking philosophy.

Te Koko 2020 is complex and appealing, with notes of white flowers, warm hay, summer stone fruit and preserved citrus on the nose. Textured. with layers of white peach, pear and white flowers melding with mineral characters and subtle brioche notes. A freshening acidity underpins this dense and enticing palate, leading to a long and elegant finish.

The grapes come from older vines planted on the floor of the Wairau Valley. The warm, free-draining gravelly soils of the Motukawa, Widows, Estate and Brook Street vineyards are ideal for Sauvignon Blanc.

After gentle pressing and settling for a period of 24 hours, the juice was racked directly to French oak barrels (8% new) and large format wooden cuves, where it underwent a slow and steady fermentation that was initiated by indigenous yeasts. The primary fermentation progressed carefully, gaining complexity over four to five months under the watchful eye of our winemaking team. The wine rested in barrel on fine lees for 11 months, after which it was blended. The winemaking team decided to finish the ageing in a less oxidative approach, using stainless steel, concrete tanks and large format wooden cuves. Careful maturation in the cellar creates the unique texture and acid profile of Te Koko, with the resultant wine reposing a delicate balance.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Intense, dynamic, complex bouquet with exotic aromas of grapefruit-pith, guava, passionfruit-flower, green honey-dew melon, nettles, chevre, and vanilla pod. A little closed at first but opens up well in the glass. A well-weighted wine with citrus and passionfruit flavours, a slightly honeyed, barrel-influenced texture, vibrant acidity and a firm, piquant finish. Not your average Sauvignon but rather a rich engaging style."

95/100 points, New Zealand Wine Rater, October 2022

"Oak spice plays a key role on the nose, with vegetal character, lemon juice, plenty of body and weight, great persistence. Nutty and sophisticated, very savoury. There's bitter grapefruit character on the finish. Much more primary fruit than most Bordeaux equivalents, but otherwise very comparable in style."

17/20 points, Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2023

Try Te Koko with Chinese-style crispy pork belly, vibrant spicy dishes or smoked salmon.