Te Koko 2023
from $72.00Te Koko is a sophisticated, unique expression of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
A style of its own
Te Koko has always been a wine that rewards patience. It doesn’t burst from the glass or shout about its qualities. Instead, it takes its time, revealing remarkable layers of complexity and clarity. Those familiar with Cloudy Bay’s Sauvignon Blanc style will know that Te Koko is more textural and savoury. It’s a wine we only make in the years when nature allows it, and when that happens, it’s all hands on deck for both vineyard and winery teams.
"Te Koko tastes like it’s a minimal intervention wine, and it is made that way, yet we almost give it the most care and attention of all our wines.”
Kelly Stuart - Winemaker
A testing vintage
“You can't make Te Koko with just any grapes - the whole thought process behind it starts a year earlier in the vineyard,” says Kelly Stuart.
The 2023 growing season was not without its challenges for our viticultural team. It was a year of focus and perseverance in the face of unpredictable weather and low yields.
“Te Koko 2023 is an example of hard viticultural graft,” says Viticultural Director John Flanagan. “It was a season laden with challenges, but adherence to the basic tenets of vineyard practices throughout the season meant that by the time harvest arrived, the fruit delivered into the winery was up to the ‘Te Koko standard’.”
For John, all that hard work paid off the moment he had his first sip. “There is a great deal of satisfaction derived from tasting the finished product, given the stringent quality parameters that must be met to make this outstanding wine.”
To meet those standards, says Technical Viticulturist Hannah Ternent, every detail in the vineyard is closely managed.
“For the Sauvignon Blanc fruit that is destined for Te Koko, we ensure that we are carrying a low yield on the vines, which allows for excellent balance and even ripeness to occur,” she says.
“We carefully monitor the ripeness of the fruit as we approach harvest,” she says. “We look for tropical fruit characters balanced by acidity, and we often remove fruit earlier in the season to keep yields low and quality high.”
Winemaking
Kelly Stuart - Winemaker
Crafted with patience and precision
Nothing about Te Koko is rushed. After the patience in the vineyards, the fruit is handpicked, then transported to the winery to begin its fermentation with wild yeasts from the terroir around us. It then matures on lees in a combination of barriques, oak cuves and concrete "tulips", evolving into something remarkable.
It’s a wine that embraces contradiction, too. That patience is all about a minimal intervention approach, and yet, it’s a wine that is meticulously crafted. Every single decision, from fruit selection on the vines to the final blend in the bottle, is carefully considered.
In the glass
Te Koko 2023 is a study in balance. It carries the hallmark citrus and stone fruit characters, layered with savoury complexity and subtle mineral edges. The palate is rich and textural, yet defined by brightness and drive.
“It’s delicious,” says Kelly Stuart. “Mineral yet rich and with a lovely acidity that makes it an excellent food wine.”
As always, it is a wine that rewards time in the glass, evolving with every swirl.
Food pairings
On the table
Te Koko 2023 is a natural companion for flavourful food, from sushi and dumplings to grilled salmon, spiced chickpeas and fried haloumi. It’s also perfectly suited to long lunches and thoughtful conversation, or something more casual, as Kelly suggests: “With my friends at a BBQ!”
When asked who he’d share a bottle with, John Flanagan has one man in his sights: “All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. I want to hear his thoughts on the wine, and he can hear mine on the team.”