Since 1985, Cloudy Bay has been attracting attention with its intensely fragrant and flavourful style of sauvignon blanc from its Marlborough, New Zealand vineyards.Supplied
Given Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc’s generous and intense character, many people’s preference is to drink them in their youth. However, Cloudy Bay and other top producers in Marlborough often pour older vintages for guests at the winery to demonstrate how, contrary to most expectations, these zesty whites from New Zealand gain complexity and richness with bottle age.
Looking back at my tasting notes, Cloudy Bay’s 2014 vintage impressed me as one of the most complex and impressive releases I had tasted from that producer. That wine’s texture and concentration of flavours and aromas made it instantly enjoyable upon release but are also hallmarks for a wine with potential to mature gracefully.
Cloudy Bay’s 2022 sauvignon blanc wine.Hand-out/Supplied
New Zealand’s characteristic sauvignon blanc style boasts plenty of fresh acidity which helps these white wines develop impressively. Older expressions develop honeysuckle, nougat and toasty notes with a waxy texture, similar to what you find in aged rieslings or semillons.
The screw cap closure used by Cloudy Bay and many other New Zealand producers also helps extend the drinkability for sauvignon blanc.
As a quality sauvignon from Marlborough reaches five to seven years of age, the personality turns from tangy and mouth-watering to something more mellow and approachable. If the bottle has been properly stored in a consistently cool environment, away from bright lights, that wine from 2014 is sure to be suitable and safe to drink, but you might find its flavour more interesting than enjoyable.
If your favourite element of sauvignon blanc is that boisterous rush of citrus, green apple and passion fruit flavours, I fear you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. But you’ll never know until you open and taste it. Chill it and give it a go.
When you do decide to open that bottle, perhaps taking advantage of an upcoming holiday gathering, I would recommend having a backup bottle in case it’s not to your taste. The current vintage of Cloudy Bay would give you an opportunity to compare the vibrant youthful character versus the layers of complexity that come with age. It’s always a good idea to have an alternate available any time you decide to open a wine you’ve been keeping in case you find its aged character flat or lifeless.
