2022 Cloudy Bay Chardonnay, Marlborough

Light golden. Spicy oak and a whiff of reduction combine to give this a flinty, smoky edge overlaying very zesty, lively citrus. The palate has a tight, linear structure, excellent shape, driven by acidity from front to back. Refreshingly green in a citrusy way, taut on the palate but soft on the finish. A smartly made, finely-tuned and very modern style of chardonnay which will develop more weight in the bottle 28 Mar 2024 Drink 2024–2034

93 points Stephen Wong MW therealreview.com

Aromatically, the wine draws you in with complex flavours of cashew nut, preserved lemon and nectarine. As the wine opens up, subtle grapefruit and white floral notes reveal themselves. The palate is layered with a bold complexity of ripe fruit flavour and spicy, smoky oak characters. The texture of the wine - a combination of fruit density and lees work - provides a focal point that is balanced by fresh and firm acidity.

Cloudy Bay Chardonnay is one for connoisseurs and gastronomic adventurers: refined, poised and balanced. Painstakingly made using traditional techniques, it is a true ‘food wine’. Fruit from vineyards in the stony soils of Wairau Valley and the dense clay of the Southern Valleys work together to create a wine that marries ripe stone fruit and citrusy elegance.