Crafted to a combination of traditional hands-off and modern winemaking techniques, Cloudy Bay Chardonnay is an intriguing and textural wine. Packed full of citrus and stonefruit characters, the fruit is enhanced by an attractive nuttiness and subtle oak influence.

The grapes are predominantly the Mendoza clone sourced from Cloudy Bay Estate and grower vineyards located throughout the Wairau and Brancott Valleys. The majority of the crop is hand picked and loaded directly into tank presses. The remainder is harvested into small bins and pressed. After settling, the majority of the juice is transferred directly to barrels and allowed to ferment using indigenous yeast strains before undergoing malolactic. The rest is transferred to tanks and inoculated with a cultured yeast strain, before transfer to barrel for fermentation. Components are assembled after a year in French oak barrels and a further period on yeast lees prior to a light fining for clarification.

Bright straw in colour. An irresistible mix of ripe citrus and toasted nut aromas reminiscent of grapefruit, fig and pistachio biscotti taken with chamomile tea. The palate leads with savoury notes which give way to a taut citrus core, revealing the vibrant Marlborough fruit. Natural yeast fermentation and judicious oak handling combine to deliver a refined and textural finish. Cloudy Bay is delicious in its youth with pure fruit flavours of grapefruit and white peach enhanced by a biscuity, mineral complexity and restrained oak.