2023 Cloudy Bay Chardonnay 750ml

Awards, Ratings & Reviews Wine Review Online (94 / 100) 2023 Vintage | Tasted: Jun 2025 "I have always been impressed with all aspects of the Cloudy Bay operation, and the fact that it can make Chardonnay as delicious and long-lasting as its Sauvignon Blancs should not be a surprise to those who haven’t tried one. What really is intriguing about this one is that the aftertaste magnifies what comes before – lots of fresh and dried apple flavors with good minerality, medium body, hints of tannins and overall solid structure." James Suckling 2023 Vintage | Tasted: Nov 2024 "Bright and clear with dried-apple, mineral and stone aromas with some honeysuckle undertones. Medium-bodied, this has tangy and crisp acidity, nougat and cooked-apple flavors. Limes in the finish. The vividness is impressive. Drink now. Screw cap." About This Wine Vintage & Vineyard Notes The season began relatively unsettled, leading to inconsistent fruit-set and lower yields with looser bunches. This proved to be a blessing, as the mild and humid weather that followed required rigorous canopy management to handle disease pressure. Long sunny days and cool nights in March provided the perfect environment for ripening, allowing each block to reach full potential before picking. The Chardonnay comes from a combination of vineyards chosen for their complementary soil types, including Mustang, Brookby, Valhalla, Widows, and Cloudy Bay Estate. The warm gravelly soils of the Wairau Valley and the cooler clay soils of the Southern Valleys are used in unison to provide a great balance of ripeness and elegance. Winemaking After gentle pressing, the juice was settled and racked before being transferred to French oak barriques and new 6-kilolitre cuves. Half of the batches were put into barrels with full solids. 100% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine rested in barrel and cuve for 11 months before blending. Tasting Notes Nose Open and expressive on the nose, with enticing notes of white nectarine, pear and citrus complemented by a touch of subtle, savoury oak. Palate This wine is taut at first, unfurling in the glass to reveal notes of vibrant citrus, just-ripe apricot, greengage and a refreshing vein of minerality that adds a sense of drive to the concentrated and mouthwatering palate. Food Pairing A natural match for just about everything, especially seafood, Caprese salad, soft cows’ cheeses, cream sauces, or anything smoked or chargrilled. It also pairs well with chicken and turkey. Specifications Vintage: 2023 Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay Region: Marlborough / New Zealand Alcohol: 13.5% Acidity TA: 6.77 g/l Acidity pH: 3.19 Maturation: Oaked Oak Type: French Ownership: LVMH Closure: Screwcap Drinking Window: 2025–2032