Cloudy Bay is one of Marlborough’s defining producers, renowned for shaping New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc’s international reputation. Te Koko represents its alternative expression of the variety, produced only in suitable vintages and crafted through wild fermentation and extended barrel ageing to emphasise complexity over exuberant fruit.

Te Koko is sourced from selected older Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in the Wairau Valley, where free-draining gravel soils encourage concentration and precision. The 2023 vintage demanded meticulous vineyard management following a challenging growing season, resulting in low yields but fruit of sufficient quality for this limited release. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts and extended lees ageing in French oak contribute texture and depth.

Initially restrained, the bouquet gradually reveals aromas of ripe citrus, lemon verbena, mango and white nectarine, complemented by subtle smoky, savoury notes. The palate is layered and concentrated, combining preserved citrus, meadow hay and salted almond with vibrant acidity, gentle minerality and a finely textured, persistent finish that rewards both aeration and bottle age.

Te Koko has become a benchmark for barrel-fermented Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, demonstrating the variety’s capacity for complexity and longevity beyond the region’s classic aromatic style. Produced only when quality permits, it is widely regarded by collectors and enthusiasts as one of New Zealand’s most distinctive and age-worthy white wines.