Those who think Cloudy Bay is all about Sauvignon Blanc, think again – this shows they think just as much, if not more, about Pinot Noir – granted, the grapes come from the Mecca of Pinot Noir in New Zealand, Central Otago, but the Bay-ers recognized something special was going on there. The grapes get picked at night and trucked back to Marlborough in a refrigerated truck. Cloudy Bay has been making this wine since 2011, and felt so strongly they invested in a vineyard in 2014. It’s a fruit driven affair with good acid-balance, mineral moments and a strong tannin backbone. Spiced-black fruit, wood smoke, black cherry and a rich mouthfeel; what really surprised me was the real pepperiness this wine achieved on both the nose and palate, with a hint of violet to reign it in on the finish. The other surprise was the cork closure.
Rating: **** ½