Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir 2023
Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir 2023 is a dry, light-bodied red from Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand), in the light, fresh reds style. Tannins are soft and acidity fresh; oak influence is little. Good with barbecue, steak, salmon, turkey. Drink now or within 8 years (to about 2034). Decant for about 1 hour. Critic score 93/100 (merchant-reported). Cheapest offer £40.60 at 8wines UK.
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaw and Smith Lenswood Pinot Noir 2021 Shaw and Smith · South Australia | £47.28 | |||
| Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir 2022 Rippon · Central Otago | £54.37 | |||
| Franz Haas Pinot Nero Schweizer 2021 Franz Haas · Trentino-Alto Adige | £40.13 | |||
| La Crema Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2022 La Crema · Oregon | £39.49 |
Drink now through or cellar for up to 8 years. Decant 1 hour Cloudy bay is synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc but its Pinot Noir should be just as highly praised! The colour is a bright ruby red. The nose shows cherry, blueberry, cranberry and hints of spice such as cinnamon and ginger. On the palate, the ripe fruit bursts onto the tongue and displays chocolate, black cherry, spice, earthiness and leather. Elegant tannins integrate beautifully and the acid is perfect. The finish is persistent and flavour full – you want it to go on and on and it does! This is the perfect match for barbecued ribs, beef, salmon, turkey, chicken and cheese. It can benefit from a slight chilling and certainly improves even more if decanted. Notes of tea leaf, cinnamon, and ginger mingle with a cherry/blueberry core just perfectly. The wine is best with a touch of chill on it; too warm it starts to feel a bit watery. Cloudy Bay Vineyards started in 1985 and they had a vision then that has certainly come to fruition. They wanted to produce ‘wines of region’ growing the best grapes for particular terroirs. They combined that with using innovative wine making techniques, attention to detail that is second to none, and minimal intervention. The results are spectacular quality wines that are consistent and at the very top of their game.