Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir 2023

Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2023  

Grape: 100% Pinot Noir, destemmed with 5% whole bunches used, wild yeast fermentation, 11 months' maturation in French oak barrels (30% new)

Producer Tasting Note:

Beautifully aromatic and enticing on the nose, with a distinctly summery character. Scents of strawberry and cherry run alongside a touch of vanilla and toast. The palate is immediately bright and concentrated. Notes of sun-ripened Victoria plums, strawberry and cherry recall fruit picking on warm days. All is freshened and enlivened by a dart of redcurrant acidity.

Critic's Tasting Note:

"A savory and succulent red with strawberry and slate character. Medium-bodied, it has fine and dusty tannins and a tangy, fresh finish. Lemon-rind undertones. So delicious now. Drink or hold. Screw cap."

93/100 points, James Suckling, November 2024

Fruit for this Pinot Noir comes from the cool clay soils and rolling, north-facing slopes of Marlborough’s Southern Valleys region. The aged alluvial gravels and dense clay subsoils balance drainage and water availability to yield the region's best Pinot Noir grapes. Key blocks include the Mustang, Delta and Barracks vineyards.

Food Pairing: Pair with a wide variety of foods, including lighter game meats (duck, rabbit), lamb, roasted vegetables, berries, herbs and almost anything chargrilled.