The Cloudy Bay Chardonnay balances New World fruit with Old World restraint. It is known for reconciling the stony soils of the Wairau Valley and the denser clay soils of the Southern Valleys of Marlborough. Today, Cloudy Bay's Chardonnay is an equal representation of the two soil types, with the riper stone fruit characteristics from the stony soils and the citrus-focused elegance of Chardonnay from Marlborough's clay soils.When young, the Chardonnay is vibrant and intense, with white stone fruit, citrus and floral characters melding with subtle oak. With time, the wine takes on a more savoury aspects, melding the fruit core with savoury notes of grilled nuts and brioche, as well as spice. This wine can also be cellared for up to 10-15 years.