A vibrant and expressive Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc bursting with lemon curd, lime, white nectarine and fresh herbs. Juicy and poised on the palate, it combines bright citrus acidity with subtle sea-salt minerality and an elegant, refreshing finish. Lively, polished and immediately enjoyable, this iconic New Zealand wine is perfect for seafood or light, fresh dishes.

Wine Spectator | WS 93
Published: Apr 30, 2026

Concentrated and fragrant, with lemongrass, lemon verbena and celery salt notes to complement the pineapple, mango and lemon curd flavors, backed by a touch of orange sherbet. Gains momentum on the long, expressive finish. Drink now. 293,000 cases made, 80,000 cases imported.

James Suckling | JS 92
Published: Oct 12, 2025

Vivid, round and juicy, with lemons, limes, fresh herbs and some mild spices on the nose, following through to a medium body with fresh acidity. Lively and succulent, with a delicious finish packed with limes. Drink now. Screw cap.

Jancis Robinson | JR 16.5
Published: Nov 25, 2025

Full, screwcapped bottle 1,331 g. From vineyards planted on the Wairau Valley floor. This includes the Estate, Motukawa, Widow’s Block, Red Shed and Mustang vineyards. Following the harvest, the free-run juice was cold settled before racking and inoculation with selected yeast. Fermentation was carried out primarily in stainless-steel tanks, with around 1.8% of the blend fermented at warmer temperatures in large-format oak vats. A portion was also fermented using ambient yeast. A blend of 61 different components. TA 7.62 g/l, pH 3.26.

Smells of capsicum , pea pod and citrus with a floral note – elderflower is spot on, as the producer suggests in the tech sheet. Taut and zesty on the palate. Intense and nicely textured, almost chewy. Intense, long and mouth-watering. Still a benchmark even if it is no longer the sole beacon of NZ SB. The price seems to have remained reasonable given the fame of the name, or perhaps the prices of other wines have been catching up. (JH)

Vivino | Vivino 4.2

Scented and summery, the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc has deliciously vibrant aromatics that infuse the tropical fragrance of fresh passion fruit and juicy pineapples with garden-fresh basil and the spiciness of crushed tomato leaves. The palate is long and succulent, combining exotic fruits with ripe, red capsicum and a twist of green olive beautifully complemented by crisp natural acidity and a hint of lime zest.

Cloudybay.com

Sauvignon Blanc 2025 taste description
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc put New Zealand on the map with its captivating flavour. 2025 Sauvignon Blanc has bright lemon curd notes layered over white nectarine, and fresh sea salt aromas reminiscent of a cool sea breeze at the end of a warm day.

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2025 is open and expressive on the nose, with notes of peach, elderflower, makrut lime and freshly squeezed lemon.

On the palate, bright lemon curd-like notes are layered over subtle white nectarine and refreshing sea salt and dune grass aromas reminiscent of a cool sea breeze at the end of a warm day. There’s a sense of poise, with the refined mid palate balanced by a steel-cut citrus acidity and an elegant finish.