ZNZ014 Cloudy Bay Te Wahi Pinot Noir 2021
Special price: $488/ bottle
Region: Central Otago, New Zealand
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Volume: 750ml
Te Wāhi is a blend of two distinct vineyards. Northburn, nestled on the steep eastern shores of Lake Dunstan, boasts harsh rocky glacial soils that produce compact, intensely flavored fruit. Calvert, located on Felton Road in Bannockburn, sits on silty clay soils reminiscent of an ancient lakebed, producing rich, aromatic fruit.
Grapes from two complementary Central Otago vineyards are mostly destemmed and fermented in open tanks, with some fermented whole-bunch. In spring, the wines undergo extended maceration and natural malolactic fermentation. The resulting wines are then matured in batches for approximately 12 months in French oak barrels, 30% of which are new.
The nose is vibrant and expressive, with an alluring burst of dark chocolate and cherry aromas, sweet with a hint of toasted richness. A fresh minty aroma, like morning mist, neutralizes the heavy sweetness and adds a touch of vitality to the overall aroma. The palate is fresh and lively, with vibrant acidity and excellent purity, accompanied by an alluring gooseberry jelly aroma and a deep cold brew coffee flavor, which is further enhanced by the beautiful crushed mint leaf. The tannins are fine and silky, giving the wine a smooth and attractive texture.
【James Suckling 94 pts】
Plenty of ripe and dried strawberries with a slate and metal-shavings undertone on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, it has soft and exquisite tannins and a long and caressing finish. One of the best pinot noirs I have had from Cloudy Bay.
【Wine Enthusiast 93 pts】
Supple blueberry and blackberry fruit is well at the fore on this premium Pinot, followed by far subtler dried herb, cedar and licorice notes. There's a level of round richness and concentration to the palate, a silky texture and a lovely tangy acidity. Tannins are fine grained with a sandpaper texture, supporting rather than dominating.
【New Zealand’s National Treasure Winery】
Cloudy Bay is located in the Wairau Valley in Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand. This region has a cool climate, high humidity, and clay-based soil. It is also the wine-producing region with the longest sunshine hours in New Zealand, and has been recognized as the most ideal region for producing Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand. Cloudy Bay, which has been deeply rooted in the local area for many years, is one of the first few wineries to attract international attention to New Zealand wines. It can be said to be a national treasure winery in New Zealand.
The winery owns 140 hectares of vineyards and has long-term contracts with five other grape farms in the Wairau Valley. The wines produced are all small-volume, high-quality fine wines, including the dreamy best of white wines. Among them, the winery's unbarreled Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay white wine, and even Pinot Noir red wine have all been ranked in the top 100 by Wine Spectator, the largest professional wine magazine in the United States. The winery's "Te Koko" barrel-soaked Sauvignon Blanc is a dream product favored by many international wine critics. Innovation, meticulous attention to detail and adherence to regional characteristics are the purpose of Cloudy Bay. Now, the winery is also actively promoting vineyard management methods that are more harmonious with the environment.
In recent years, Cloudy Bay has been committed to developing the scale of the winery in the hope of producing wines of excellent quality. The winery believes that the future success of a professional winery must start from brewing this unique regional grape, selecting the most suitable grape varieties to be grown in the region, and combining the characteristics of each grape variety with natural environmental conditions to brew a recognized and irreplaceable winery style.
【Cloudy Bay - The Origin of Cloudy Bay】
In 1983, David Hohnen tasted his first Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Captivated by its intensity, he began his journey to bottle the essence of Marlborough and share it with the world.
In 1985, he and winemaker Kevin Judd launched Cloudy Bay Winery to international acclaim, with a Sauvignon Blanc that put New Zealand wine on the map. Cloudy Bay joined Veuve Clicquot in 2003 and became part of the LVMH family in 2010.
The Cloudy Bay legend began with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and now includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pelorus méthode traditionnelle. The adventurous spirit continues with Te Koko (barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc) and Te Wahi (exquisite Central Otago Pinot Noir from our two special southern vineyards).
【A member of the LVMH family】
Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, abbreviated as LVMH in English, was formed in 1987 by Bernard Arnault by merging Louis Vuitton and Moët Hennessy. It has about 56,000 employees and more than 50 brands. It is the largest luxury group in the world today.
The group's main businesses include the following five areas: Wines & Spirits, Fashion & Leather Goods, Perfumes & Cosmetics, Watches & Jewelry, and Selective Retailing.
On May 13, 2020, LVMH Group ranked 73rd on the 2020 Forbes Global 2000 list
It is conceivable that Cloudy Bay can become a member of LVMH, and its strength and status can be regarded as among the best, with very high strength.
