Cloudy Bay 2023 Sauvignon Blanc 750ml

Delightfully textured and smooth with balanced yet mouthwatering acidity, this wine veers into the green hedgerow spectrum of Sauvignon; think nettles and elderflowers rather than flamboyant tropical fruits. That said, there's a subtle flavor of passion fruit running through this wine. Midweight with some decent concentration, it offers nice grip on the medium-plus-length finish. Don't chill the hell out of this or you'll miss the best bits. I've given a drinking window of 2020–2025 but having tasted a delightful 14-year-old Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc that tastes like a mature Sémillon, I can say that you’re not in any danger if you leave it longer.

Score: 981 points -- Rebeccay Gibb MW, Vinous, 2020