Cloudy Bay Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc 2012
$5499each
$659DOZEN
WineryCloudy Bay
Fruit Sauvignon Blanc
Regions Marlborough
  New Zealand
Each $54.99
$659.00
Currently out of stock
The Cloudy Bay winemaking team suggested doing the unthinkable in vintage 1991. Why not ferment some juice with indegenous yeast, completely wild microflora, untrained and uncultured? This was uncharted territory in New Zealand and only nature could decide the outcome. A few barrels were set aside for trial, the juices quickly fermented into a pungent brew. Unperturbed, the winemakers let nature take it's course until spring, when the ugly duckling had morphed into a savoury complex wine of great intensity and voluptuous mouthfeel.
Vinous Maximus, a wine of extraordinary complexity, treated to full malolactic, rich barrel ferments and extended lees autolysis. Parcels are harvested throughout the cool of night to preserve flavour, a mixture of whole bunches and de stemmed grapes are loaded directly to the fruit press. After settling for two or three days, juices are racked directly to French oak barrels and indulged by a slow, wild and natural fermentation through the action of indigenous yeasts. The primary fermentation, which takes until Christmas to complete, is closely followed by malolactic. Te Koko is subsequently left in barrel, on yeast lees until the following summer, when it is racked and lightly fined. Alcohol 13.8%
TASTING NOTES
Luminescent, deep straw colour. Aromas of lemon thyme, mandarin blossom and stonefruit combine harmoniously with ginger spice and nutty and savoury tones, underlined by exotic tropical notes. The multi layered palate is creamy and textured, balanced by a clean, mineral acidity. An intriguing and alternative style, Te Koko has excellent persistence of flavour and intensity.
Wines by Cloudy Bay
More About Cloudy Bay Winery
Cloudy Bay Vineyards was established in 1985 by Western Australia's Cape Mentelle, and is today part of Estates & Wines, The Moët Hennessy Wine Division
Cloudy Bay farms 200 hectares of vines at three carefully selected sites. Vineyards planted in 1986 surround the winery in the Wairau Valley at Rapaura, with additional plantings at nearby Renwick and in the Brancott & Omaka Valley's, in the southern foothills. Five long term contract growers also work closely with Cloudy Bay. The main varieties grown are sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot noir with lesser quantities of riesling and gewurztraminer. Cloudy Bay»