Celebrated New Zealand producer Cloudy Bay has unveiled plans to launch a new Central Otago Pinot Noir this year.
The first vintage of the new wine, Te Wahi 2010, will be available to taste at the Pinot at Cloud Bay Tasting on 8 September in Marlborough, the LVMH-owned winery said.
‘After 27 years of producing wine in Marlborough, we felt at liberty to explore further afield and create a different expression of Pinot Noir,’ said Cloudy Bay winemaker Nick Lane.
‘This is not simply a “marketing cook-up”, but an opportunity for us to expand into exciting new territory.’
Cloudy Bay started working with growers in Central Otago in 2009, sourcing fruit from three hectares of vineyards in the region, and hopes to acquire its own vineyards there by 2013.
Lane told Decanter.com that the wine will typically spend 14 months in 40% new French oak, with no more than 1,000 cases released each year, at an expected retail price of NZ$70-80.
Australia and New Zealand are key launch markets for the 2010 vintage, along with the UK.
Cloudy Bay is also examining the possibility of acquiring Pinot Noir vineyards in the Martinborough region in the near future.
‘Sourcing quality fruit in Marlborough is becoming increasingly difficult due to intense competition for vineyards. If we want to produce more quality Pinot Noir, then we may need to look further afield,’ Lane admitted.
The release date for Te Wahi 2010 is yet to be confirmed.
Written by James Lawrence
