EAT | Exquisite Wine Nurtured by Nature: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2012 | Cloudy Bay
Cloudy Bay
EAT | Exquisite Wine Nurtured by New Zealand's Great Outdoors
The Highly Anticipated New Release: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Wine nurtured by the great outdoors of New Zealand. This is the winery that put New Zealand wine on the map worldwide: Cloudy Bay. Its pure, fruit-forward taste liberates the world of wine, which can often be complex, into a realm of greater freedom and adventurous spirit.
Text by TANAKA Junko (OPENERS)
Cloudy Bay's Prowess That Has Impressed Connoisseurs Worldwide
In the northernmost part of the South Island, Marlborough's Wairau Valley boasts New Zealand's highest sunshine hours despite its cool climate. This is home to Cloudy Bay's vineyards: 140 hectares of company-owned land and five growers with whom they have long-term contracts. The main varieties are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Small amounts of Gewürztraminer and Riesling are also cultivated.
While the Chardonnay, with its robust, elegant structure, and the Pinot Noir, with its smooth tannins creating a profound depth of flavor, are certainly compelling, no discussion of Cloudy Bay is complete without mentioning its Sauvignon Blanc.
A pale, straw-green hue with a powerful aroma. Its rich flavors evoke ripe tomatoes, freshly picked basil, redcurrants, mandarin orange, and lemon cake. These are layered with refreshing fruitiness, culminating in a crisp, green apple-like finish. This exquisitely balanced Sauvignon Blanc is the wine that has captivated wine lovers around the globe.
From Cloudy Bay's Sauvignon Blanc lineup comes the highly anticipated new release: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2012. This year, the grapes turned away from the sun, resulting in a harvest yield of only 75% of the average. For the grapes, this proved to be a positive, as the reduced quantity led to berries with concentrated aroma and flavor. To enhance the quality of the grapes, a portion of the harvest was fermented in French oak barrels, in addition to the usual stainless steel tanks. The result is an exquisite wine that retains its fruity, crisp acidity while gaining a well-balanced body from the barrel fermentation.
Forage: A Gastronomic Treasure Hunt
By the way, do you know the word "forage"? Forage means to secure food or search for food. For lovers of Sauvignon Blanc, it also refers to the activity of searching for and preparing ingredients that pair well with wine from the land near Cloudy Bay's home in the Wairau Valley. It's a gastronomic treasure hunt held once a year, set against the backdrop of Marlborough's great outdoors.──This activity truly embodies the spirit of Sauvignon Blanc, inviting us into a world of freedom with every sip.
Every year, Cloudy Bay's winemakers invite guests to the Wairau Valley to host this forage event. The idea is, "To truly understand a wine, you must visit the land where it was born." Guests, divided into groups, dash through nature—going fishing, picking vegetables and fruits, or even hunting—to acquire their assigned "treasures." These gathered treasures are then transformed into a feast served that very evening.
It may be difficult to find a comparable place nearby, especially in New Zealand's abundant nature, which remains largely untouched. However, with a little ingenuity, there are many ways to enjoy your own forage. You could visit a market to find fresh seafood that pairs well with Sauvignon Blanc, or in spring, head into the mountains to search for wild vegetables. The key is to embark on your food-finding journey with a spirit of adventure. When you return and sit at the table, you'll surely notice. Not only will the Sauvignon Blanc taste even better, but you'll also discover a new you, eager to embark on another adventure.
Inquiries
MHD Moët Hennessy Diageo
http://www.mhdkk.com/products/cloudy_bay.html