Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2023

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

Producer Tasting Note:

Te Koko 2023 is initially reticent on the nose, but with time in the glass opens to reveal notes of just-ripe mango, lemon verbena and juicy sun-warmed lemon. The palate is concentrated and mouthwateringly complex. The sun-warmed impression continues, with notes of meadow hay, preserved citrus, and white nectarine, with layers of salted almond and a gentle smoky minerality leading through to a long and focused 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 Block, Mustang and Brook Street vineyards are ideal for Sauvignon Blanc.

Winemaking: After gentle pressing and settling for a period of 24 hours, the juice was racked directly to French oak barrels (7% 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:

"Smells both riper and sweeter than the straight Cloudy Bay 2025: lemon, nectarine and lime, with a light impression of herbs. Marked by the creamy texture and the layers of flavour. Full, deep and long and more subtle than in the early days of Te Koko, when the oak was both revolutionary and intrusive. A complex wine but quite pricey and only just balancing winemaking with fruit and acidity"  Drink 2025-2028

17/20 points, Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, November 2025

"A well-rounded, flavorful and inspired sauvignon blanc with papayas, passion fruit sorbet and fresh herbs on the nose. Medium-bodied with bright acidity. Delicious lime character on the palate, with a succulent texture. Long, focused and savory finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap."

93/100 points, James Suckling, October 2025

"The 2023 Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc is nutty and savory, laden with tobacco, sandalwood, cashews, Golden Delicious apples, salted melon and preserved citrus. In the mouth, the wine is creamy and silky, with intense acidity that balances the textured fruit. I happen to think that oak and Sauvignon Blanc make awkward bedfellows most of the time; their integration must feel seamless in order for it to work, and it works here. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap."  Drink 2026-2036

95/100 points, Erin Larkin, WINE ADVOCATE, April 2026

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