Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Cloudy Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Wairau Valley, New Zealand, 2025   

Grape: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Producer Tasting Note: 

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2025 is open and expressive on the nose, with notes of peach, elderflower, makrut lime and freshly squeezed lemon.

On the palate, bright lemon curd-like notes are layered over subtle white nectarine and refreshing sea salt and dune grass aromas reminiscent of a cool sea breeze at the end of a warm day. There’s a sense of poise, with the refined mid palate balanced by a steel-cut citrus acidity and an elegant finish.

Critic's Tasting Note:

"Vivid, round and juicy, with lemons, limes, fresh herbs and some mild spices on the nose, following through to a medium body with fresh acidity. Lively and succulent, with a delicious finish packed with limes. Drink now. Screw cap."

92/100 points, James Suckling, October 2025

Cloudy Bay's Sauvignon Blanc fruit comes largely from vineyards planted in Wairau Valley’s Rapaura, Renwick and Brancott Valley sub-regions. The area’s warm, dry maritime climate and free-draining gravelly soils are perfect for Sauvignon Blanc. Key blocks include the Estate, Motukawa, Widow's Block, Red Shed, and Mustang vineyards.

Fruit from each vineyard ferments separately, primarily in stainless steel tanks before blending, a critical step in maintaining Cloudy Bay’s famous consistency. A 1.5% portion was fermented in large oak vats and another portion received wild yeast ferment. Rather than blending to make more wine, the winemakers carefully select the right grapes for each year’s wine. In 2025, 90 batches were selected to create the final blend. This means the quantity may change, but never the quality.

Food Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc 2025 is a natural match for almost any seafood. Some favourites at the winery include tempura oysters, locally-caught sashimi, and steamed mussels with garlic, citrus and parsley. It’s also a great match for green salads and goats’ cheese. A hint from the producer: if it goes with lemon, it goes with Sauvignon Blanc.