Wines
of the Week:
Cloudy Bay Vineyards - New Zealand
Over
the last several years, Sauvignon Blanc from
New Zealand has taken the world by storm and Cloudy
Bay Vineyards is one of the more notable producers.
They are situated in the Wairau Valley in Marlborough at the
northern end of New Zealand's South Island. This unique and
cool wine region enjoys a maritime climate with the longest
hours of sunshine of any place in New Zealand. Cloudy
Bay has estate vineyards located at prime sites within
the Wairau Valley, and long-term supply agreements with five
Wairau Valley growers. Hence, the quality of their wines is
consistently high.
Here's
what our tasting panel thought about a few of their current
releases:
Cloudy
Bay Vineyards Label Reviews:
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Cloudy
Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Winery:
Cloudy Bay Vineyards
Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough, NZ
Special Designation: (none)
Farming Certification:
(none)
Year:
2011
Price: 20-25
Review:
Swirl a glass and enjoy notes of grapefruit, pear, and
lemon that mingle with suggestions of grass and minerals.
Flavors of citrus fruits and gooseberries emerge on the
palate along with mineraly and weedy nuances. A lovely,
crisp white with a moderate herbaceous character, if you
like a nice balance of fruit and non-fruit flavors, try
this bottle for yourself.
Rating: 90 |
 |
Cloudy
Bay Chardonnay 200
Winery:
Cloudy Bay Vineyards
Grape(s): Chardonnay
Region: Marlborough, NZ
Special Designation: (none)
Farming Certification:
(none)
Year:
2007
Price: 25-30
Review:
A bouquet of ruby red grapefruit, vanilla, toasty oak,
and pistachios rises up from glass. A sip reveals flavors
of tart pineapple and citrus fruits with accents of smoky
oak and slightly sweet nutty suggestions. A lively, out-of
the-ordinary Chardonnay that's crisper than most from
California, people that normally drink Sauvignon Blanc
ought to give this wine a try.
Rating: 88 |
 |
Cloudy
Bay Pinot Noir 2009
Winery:
Cloudy Bay Vineyards
Grape(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Marlborough, NZ
Special Designation: (none)
Farming Certification:
(none)
Year:
2009
Price: 30-35
Review:
Aromas of strawberries and cherries meld with suggestions
of earth and smoky oak on the nose. Flavors of red berries
meld with notes of truffles, minerals, and game on the
palate. An lighter Pinot, with moderate acidity, fans
of easy going Pinots with a dry finish ought to give this
wine a try.
Rating: 88 |
By
Jason Barlow
| 96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
| 92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
| 85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
www.cloudybay.co.nz/
|
