Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir

Cloudy Bay are best known as the guys that put New Zealand on the world wine map back in the late 1980s. It was their world class Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that caught the eye of the wine world but these days their increased focus on other wines, like the Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir, is really paying off.

The Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir from Marlborough is one of only two reds produced by Cloudy Bay – the other being the flagship Te Wahi Pinot from Central Otago.

In true winemaker waffle this is described as “a seamless structure and concentrated palate, framed with ripe silky tannins and complex spicy oak and herbal notes.” We just thought this was a Pinot with class, power and elegance, a bit like an iron fist in a velvet glove.

This latest 2023 vintage is yet another class act and has the backing of Master of Wine Stephen Wong…

91/100 (Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review)
“Serious, deeper, stalky and more brooding black fruit which expands on the palate before dusty tannins grip across the drying and woody finish. Closed, with savoury tomato and mocha oak notes developing on the moderate-length finish. Some innate complexity with the smoky oak which will gain more breadth and perfume in time. A more traditional, muscular style of NZ pinot “

It’s got massive cellaring potential of ten years plus but we reckon this is the ultimate dinner party red. And what to serve? Duck. Rich, fatty, glorious duck!