Cloudy Bay Te Koko 2020

The most famous name in New Zealand wine, Cloudy Bay, produces a classic Marlborough Sauvignon. Yet Te KoKo is their ‘alternative’ that better reflects a smoky Sancerre or creamy Burgundy. It’s a premium wine that’s only made when conditions are just right. Pandemic aside, 2020 was very good and, as long as a team of willing local pickers could be found, the grapes were harvested in excellent condition. Te Koko gains its complexity from a long, slow fermentation with wild yeasts in French oak barrels. Eleven months ageing on its fine lees deepens the savoury complexity and adds a creamy texture. Exotic, floral and smoky flavours combine with ample ripe tropical fruit. A supremely elegant wine to pair with creamy sauced white meats or fish.