Cloudy Bay’s evocative distillation of the most extreme southerly and continental Pinot Noir terroir of Central Otago.

Built on the belief that pinot noir should speak of its origins, Te Wahi comes from the Maori phrase for “the place” and perfectly embodies the raw beauty that is New Zealand’s Central Otago.

A wine of incredible finesse, Te Wahi showcases the complementarity of two terroirs: the silky, richly flavoured grapes from Cloudy Bay’s Calvert vineyard, and the powerful, structured qualities found in Northburn.

The nose is filled with dusky bramble, wild strawberry notes and hints of violets. The palate delivers an elegant core of concentrated damson and hedgerow fruit, underpinned by dense tannins and a vibrant freshness.

The 2017 growing season began with ideal spring conditions and warm temperatures, however cooler weather over flowering led to a naturally reduced crop and smaller bunches.

The grapes were handpicked between the 3rd and 27th April, with good weather allowing the fruit to be allowed to mature slowly, leading to supple and ripe tannins. Sugar levels ranged from 22.4 to 24.5 brix.

The grapes for Te Wahi 2017 were predominantly de-stemmed into open top fermenters, with 15% whole bunch inclusion. There, the grapes underwent a five-day cold soak before the start of wild yeast fermentation. The cap management consisted plunging between one and four times daily, with a maximum fermentation temperature of 30 degrees Celsius. Total skin contact time ranged from seventeen to twenty-five days, with the pressing date determined by taste. After twelve months barrel-aging in French oak barriques (30% new), the wine was bottled on 3rd of July 2018. It was released on July 1st 2019, after twelve months of additional bottle aging in our Cellar.

"A cool and unsettled spring reduced our yield in the vineyards, but this ensured that the fruit matured perfectly to make a classic and concentrated wine, with distinctively Central Otago notes of dark fruit and wild mountain herbs."
Jim White, Cloudy Bay Technical Director