2014 Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc
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Tasting notes
For those who might not know, Cloudy Bay's 2014 Te Koko is a barrel-fermented and -aged Sauvignon Blanc. In top vintages, it can come across as not dissimilar from a top-flight Graves. This one offers up smoky, herbal aromas, hints of passion fruit and nectarine. It's perhaps a touch less ripe and rich than some vintages, but it remains richly textured on the medium to full-bodied palate, finishing with mouthwatering notes of tangerine and vanilla. Somehow, this slipped through the cracks last year, but as it's still widely available, I've included it in this year's report.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
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The 2014 Te Koko has quite a pungent nose featuring scents of asparagus, gooseberry and fresh pear and a touch of flintiness in the background. The complex palate is fresh on the entry, offering crisp acidity and bell pepper, smoke and asparagus notes (oddly reminiscent of a recently tasted Saint-Bris from Goisot). It feels long on the finish. Very fine.