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Cloudy Bay's 2025 Sauvignon Blanc: A Milestone Vintage

As Cloudy Bay prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025, this iconic New Zealand winery is thrilled to announce the release of its newest vintage: the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2025. MHD Moët Hennessy Diageo, located in Kanda Jimbocho, Tokyo, will be distributing this latest offering across the nation starting this autumn.

Taking top honors in the 2025 Wine-Searcher rankings, Cloudy Bay has been recognized as the most popular New Zealand wine in the world. Additionally, its Sauvignon Blanc was ranked second among the most wanted Sauvignon Blancs worldwide, reaffirming the brand's esteemed reputation among wine lovers and experts alike. This year marks a significant achievement for Cloudy Bay, demonstrating its unwavering quality and craftsmanship that has been cherished by wine enthusiasts for decades.

Nestled in Marlborough, New Zealand, Cloudy Bay takes advantage of the region's cool climate and diverse terroirs to produce wines that reflect the true essence of their origins. The flagship Sauvignon Blanc is celebrated for its vibrant fruit flavors, reminiscent of passionfruit and mandarin orange, coupled with refreshing herbaceous notes and hints of green apple, creating a delicate and refined tasting experience. It has become a quintessential representative of New Zealand wine.

A Look at the 2025 Season

The 2025 growing season was characterized by many frost occurrences yet also featured pleasantly sunny days, marking an ideal winter for the vines. As bud break commenced, the spring was unseasonably calm with no significant frosts or heavy rains disrupting growth. Notably, the flowering period from November to early December was exceptionally warm, leading to luxuriant vine growth and sky-high harvest expectations.

However, the summer brought with it a persistent overcast sky from early January to mid-February, which was not seen in previous seasons. During this six-week stretch, methods were implemented to reduce stress on the vines, ensuring both high fruit quality and adequate ripeness. Despite the limited sunlight, overall growing conditions remained warmer and drier than average, setting the stage for a promising harvest on March 17, 2025. Initially picked vines showed excellent ripeness potential.

Utilizing a familiar approach, the Cloudy Bay winemaking team tasted 80 different selections of wine from the 2025 vintage, ultimately selecting 61 for the final blend.

Product Details

• - Product Name: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2025
• - Volume: 750mL
• - Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
• - Alcohol Content: 13.0%
• - Suggested Retail Price: ¥4,700 (ex. tax) / ¥5,170 (incl. tax)
• - Availability: National liquor retailers and online stores.

Tasting notes reveal a fragrant profile with notes of peach, elderflower, lime, and freshly squeezed lemon. The palate is charming, featuring delicate white nectarine intertwined with nuances of refreshing sea breeze and hints of salty grass, evoking the pleasant memories of a cool evening by the seaside. The sophisticated mid-palate balances vibrant citrus acidity with an elegant finish, creating a remarkable harmony.

About Cloudy Bay

Established in 1985 by pioneer David Hohnen, Cloudy Bay quickly identified the exceptional potential of New Zealand wines. It was among the first wineries to settle in Marlborough, consistently producing wines of the highest quality. The lively and distinctively styled Sauvignon Blanc has earned its place as a landmark wine that significantly elevated the global status of New Zealand wines. Driven by the belief that success lies in crafting premium wines from grape varieties best suited to the soil, Cloudy Bay has developed a unique winemaking style that capitalizes on the characteristics of each grape variety, consistently pursuing top-quality wines that showcase the potential of their terroirs.

For more information, visit MHD's official website.