The Wines

"I love the purity, precision and concentration in this powerful organic sauvignon blanc. Peach, guava, melon, saline and oyster-shell flavours are underpinned by taut, ripe acidity. A very attractive sauvignon."

"A certain stoniness on the nose, with less obvious struck-match character than the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc. Still very youthful and quite chewy on the finish. I'm pretty sure this will bloom into an even more interesting wine as 2021 progresses, gaining more fruit depth on the mid palate."

"Powerful, precise and classic Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc with a core of fresh citrus and tropical fruits, an abundance of fresh herbs, minerality and style. On the palate - silky, fresh, salivating and fruit. All the attributes displayed in the bouquet come alive on the palate leading to a lively and refreshing example, well made, lengthy and ready. Best drinking from today and through 2026."

"Bright, pale straw-yellow with some depth, even colour throughout. The wine has a positive texture line which is smooth and round-edged, carries pristine fruit and spices across the palate with poise. The fruit has balanced ripeness, elegantly showing well-proportioned herbaceousness and lush fruit without overtly explicit. This is an elegantly presented Sauvignon Blanc with balanced flavours of tropical fruit, spices and herbs on a smooth opulent texture line."

"This is an extraordinary wine for its price. Great winemaking preserves fruit purity, along with high acidity that keeps the bright aromas in tight balance to create a wine with great poise and finesse. It's an approachable little number to enjoy right now and takes Sauvignon to the next level of comlexity with flavours of zingy citrus, fresh rosemary, thyme and lemongrass all in a wine with a clean taste and long finish."

"This has some youthful, flinty notes with lime peel and green passionfruit, as well as peach and wet stone. The palate is crisp, composed and quite nicely coiled into shape. Punchy and pure citrus and tropical flavours sit fresh."

"the latest immaculate vintage from Dog Point is a reminder of how good it can be: just glorious luminous purity of limey and white grapefruit citrus, a touch of gooseberry and subtle blossomy elderflower notes."

"This ranks among the country’s greatest oak-aged Sauvignon Blancs. Proving the ageability of well-crafted Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, it is still very vigorous, with light colour, a real sense of youthful drive, and lovely depth and harmony."

"Tantalising sauvignon blanc made from grapes grown on 29-year-old vines and aged in older French oak barrels for 18 months. Taut, savoury wine with chalky-mineral, struck-flint reductive characters and nut, ginger yeast lees supported by vibrant acidity. A harmonious wine from a top vintage. Should continue to age gracefully."

"Distinctive, complex, developing, enticing. Aromas of integration, white fleshed fruits and citrus, a mix of primary and developing bottle-age complexity. On the palate – immediately fruity with barrel ferment combinations – grapefruit and lemon, apple and lees autolysis. The back palate shows-off the gentle vanilla and custard sweetness of oak. Still fresh and youthful with medium+ acidity and lengthy detailed finish. A fantastic wine. Best drinking from today and through 2026+"

"Bright, light straw-yellow with a green-gold hue, very slightly watery on edge. The nose is gentle and elegantly presented with aromas of preserved lime, lemon peels, herbs and a flinty mineral undertone. A touch of cashew note is developing, resting on a creamy yeast contact element. Dry to taste, medium-full bodied, complex aromas of preserved lime and lemon, lemon peels have focus and tension, unfolding guava and grassy nuances. A soft note of white pepper lifting delicate floral, along with lemon sherbet and flinty minerals to a sustained, long finish. Mouthwatering acidity has vitality and is integrated with the fruit and oak components, expend the wine in length and breadth. The long ageing and extended fine lees contact contribute to a supple and creamy mouthfeel along a powdery fine phenolic line. This is a barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc with complexing flavours of citrus, herbs and flintiness, presented with focus and tension along a supple texture line. Match with pork & fennel meatballs and pancetta-wrapped chicken ballotine over the next 6-8 years."

"It is dry and full bodied thanks to 100% barrel fermentation in old French oak, which adds savoury notes and depth as well as a smooth texture. It has creamy flavours to burn and a long, zesty, citrusy finish."

"A barrel-fermented, no-holds-barred style of Sauvignon Blanc, the 2014 Section 94 delivers honeyed peaches, lemon tart and pink grapefruit on the nose with hints of struck match (sulfides), lightly browned toast and yeast extract. The palate is wonderfully intense with a gorgeous, creamy texture and tons of flavor layers, finishing long. Wow--this vintage is firing on all cylinders and should age beautifully over the next 5-7+ years."

"Released at seven years of age it is beautifully complex with the typical guava and citrus fruits of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, although now more reserved, lifted by layers of diesel, honey and spicy oak. It takes on a more savoury side in the mouth – acacia and nutty nuances with creamy lees and zippy acidity that adds some bite and provides a long finish. It screams out for fine dining and matching with complex seafood dishes."

"Very stylish chardonnay with purity and power. Tangy, vibrant wine with citrus, green apple, oyster-shell, ginger and baguette crust flavours. A bright, youthful, high-energy wine that gives a nod in the direction of Burgundy."

"Yet again, there's some reductive character - aiming at Coche? Real beginning, middle and end to the fresh, leesy, super-clean fruit. Bone-dry, smoky finish. Invigorating."

"Rich and toasty upfront, with hazelnut, nutmeg and cardamom details that mingle with peach, poached pear and green apple flavors and a hint of gunpowder tea on a supple and juicy frame. Drink now through 2030."

"A complex chardonnay with guava, lime and lightly grilled-peach aromas, as well as flint and toasted hazelnut. The palate has an impressively taut and concentrated feel with praline, hazelnut, peach and lemon flavors all intertwined. Good depth."

"Bright, pale yellow with a gold hue and some depth, slightly lighter edged. The nose is full and giving, nuances of positive reduction, nutty intermix smoky mineral, unfolding buttery notes, underlined citrus and pineapple. Medium-full bodied, the palate is bright with aromas of lemon sherbet, lemon peel, pineapple interweave toasted almonds in a healthy portion; pomelo unveils on the mid-palate, along with oak spices flow along a creamy line to linearity. The palate weight is buoyant with a touch of creaminess; invigorating acid provides tension, length and vitality. The fruit has purity and concentration, lingering to a subtle saline and mineral finish.  Although it’s pleasing to consume now, it has excellent potential for further development of nutty elements and integrated acidity. This is a well-structured Chardonnay with vibrant citrus concentration, complexity in details and weight, ample ageing potential. Match with butternut squash risotto and mud crab over the next 8-10 years."

"Alluring scents of ripe citrus and apple, peach, quince and a touch of golden kiwifruit followed by spices and mild toasty barrel layers, vanilla and raw sugar then a gun-flint soil complexity. On the palate – youthful and vibrant with layers of barrel spice and wood underpinning flavours of stone fruit and citrus reflecting the bouquet. Fine wood tannins, medium+ acidity, knocking on the door of full-bodied and a satin texture showcases bot this wines deliciousness now, potential for cellaring and readiness for food. Well made, youthful and best cellared for a while longer with best drinking from late 2021 through 2029+."

"The 2018 vintage is bright, light yellow/green, with a fragrant, slightly smoky bouquet. Tightly structured with a real sense of youthful vigour, it has intense stone-fruit flavours, finely integrated oak, fresh acidity, and impressive complexity. Best drinking 2023+"

"This is a superbly youthful chardonnay style showing a wonderful combination of complex and powerful fruit, although needs a little time to show its best. It radiates with punchy, bright fruits – honeydew, green mango and citrus are wound up tightly in a blanket of spicy oak that is a little raw right now. On the palate it’s more giving with a core of citrus and floral fruits underpinned by vanillin oak and driven by zippy acidity to a long and tight finish. Beautiful composure, complexity and length will see this wine drink very well over the next decade."

"Supple, vibrant, organic pinot noir with cherry, violet, blackcurrant leaf, spice, anise, and subtle nutty oak flavours. High-energy wine with impressive purity. An elegant and youthful pinot noir with obvious cellaring potential."

"Paler and less blue than the exceptional Dog Point 2017 Pinot Noir. Transparent garnet. Sweet, violet-scented fruit. Very gentle, delicate and nuanced but not quite as compelling as the 2017. It's savoury and dry - there's no distracting sweetness, no beetroot quality, no obvious oakiness. Very light vegetal note but it's fully ripe fruit. So neat! You could certainly enjoy it now but I suspect it might be even better next year. Amazing that one producer can be so good at both Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, and pretty smart Chardonnay too."

"Bright mid cherry red in colour, it opens up with aromas of the forrest – spice, earth, truffle and undergrowth providing a savoury start. But then pretty aromatic fruits start to emerge – beetroot, dark cherry, star anise and potpourri all underpinned by well chosen oak. It is beautifully complex and, most of all, superbly balanced. The palate continues on that earthy, brooding line with tobacco, stalk and spice offset by fleshy dark cherry fruits. It is almost surprisingly tannic with strong structure and also a meaty/funky edge on a long and supple finish. Delicious and great value Kiwi Pinot."

"Attractive, earthy and spicy aromas are wound seamlessly into bright, red and darker cherries. This is complex and fragrant with dialed-in oak. The palate has impressively red-cherry flavors with succulent acidity and smooth, fluid tannins. Composed finish. Drink or hold."

"The 2018 vintage is fragrant, mouth filling and supple with rich, vibrant cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing excellent complexity and harmony. Still youthful, it’s already delicious and likely to be at its best 2023+."

"Deep, dark ruby-red with moderate transparency, slightly lighter edge. The nose is youthful and coy, nuances of blackberries, red cherries melded with floral perfume and delicate spices of vanilla, cinnamon. Medium-full bodied, a measure of liquorice broaden the palate, entwined with blackberries, cherries and blueberries, along with soil mineral component. Powdery tannins with a good grip, contribute to the structure and aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg spices. Acidity is integrated and lively, lingers through the palate with spices and blueberry nuance with power, to a long, sustained finish. This is a robust Pinot Noir at its youth with flavours of blueberries, cherry pie and floral subtleties and spices. Will benefit from ageing or decanting. Match with venison and hare over the next 8-10 years."

"Complex, varietal and very inviting bouquet with aromas of sweet red berries, plum, tea and roses layered between scents of vanilla and mild toasty wood spices. On the palate – youthful, firm, fruity, varietal and dry. Flavours of cherry and plum then vanilla and raw sugar of newish oak precede textures of firm chalky tannins and medium+ acidity. A wine that still required development time to soften the tannins a little more and allow for more integration and harmony. Well made and ready to enjoy from late 2021 through 2027+"

"Restrained but well-layered and pretty aromas combine notes of plum and dark currant with those of spice and violet. There is fine richness to the delicious and appealingly vibrant medium weight flavors that possess a velvety texture, all wrapped in a moderately firm and youthfully austere finale that is sneaky long. This is already lovely though a wine that should easily repay extended cellaring. Worth checking out."

"An understated Pinot Noir that is self-assured on the midpalate. It has a lovely sense of sinew, providing a chalky tension through the midweight core, which is emphasized further by the streak of cool-climate acidity. This isn't fruit-forward; it's a more savory expression, with high violet notes providing the top line of the score and subtle herb and cedar notes (30% new French oak) bringing up the base. Already starting to drink well, this has the structure to evolve from now to the mid-term."

"I love the purity, precision and concentration in this powerful organic sauvignon blanc. Peach, guava, melon, saline and oyster-shell flavours are underpinned by taut, ripe acidity. A very attractive sauvignon."

"Powerful, precise and classic Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc with a core of fresh citrus and tropical fruits, an abundance of fresh herbs, minerality and style. On the palate - silky, fresh, salivating and fruit. All the attributes displayed in the bouquet come alive on the palate leading to a lively and refreshing example, well made, lengthy and ready. Best drinking from today and through 2026."

"Bright, pale straw-yellow with some depth, even colour throughout. The wine has a postive texture line which is smooth and round-edged, carries pristine fruit and spices across the palate with poise. The fruit has balanced ripeness, elegantly showing well-proportioned herbaceousness and lush fruit without overtly explicit. This is an elegantly presented Sauvignon Blanc with balanced flavours of tropical fruit, spices and herbs on a smooth opulent texture line."

"A certain stoniness on the nose, with less obvious struck-match character than the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc. Still very youthful and quite chewy on the finish. I'm pretty sure this will bloom into an even more interesting wine as 2021 progresses, gaining more fruit depth on the mid palate."

"This has some youthful, flinty notes with lime peel and green passion fruit, as well as peach and wet stone. The palate is crisp, composed and quite nicely coiled into shape. Punchy and pure citrus and tropical flavors sit fresh."

"This is an extraordinary wine for its price. Great winemaking preserves fruit purity, along with high acidity that keeps the bright aromas in tight balance to create a wine with great poise and finesse. It's an approachable little number to enjoy right now and takes Sauvignon to the next level of complexity with flavours of zingy citrus, fresh rosemary, thyme and lemongrass all in a wine with a clean taste and long finish."

"This ranks among the country’s greatest oak-aged Sauvignon Blancs. Proving the ageability of well-crafted Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, it is still very vigorous, with light colour, a real sense of youthful drive, and lovely depth and harmony."

"Tantalising sauvignon blanc made from grapes grown on 29-year-old vines and aged in older French oak barrels for 18 months. Taut, savoury wine with chalky-mineral, struck-flint reductive characters and nut, ginger yeast lees supported by vibrant acidity. A harmonious wine from a top vintage. Should continue to age gracefully."

"Distinctive, complex, developing, enticing. Aromas of integration, white fleshed fruits and citrus, a mix of primary and developing bottle-age complexity. On the palate – immediately fruity with barrel ferment combinations – grapefruit and lemon, apple and lees autolysis. The back palate shows-off the gentle vanilla and custard sweetness of oak. Still fresh and youthful with medium+ acidity and lengthy detailed finish. A fantastic wine. Best drinking from today and through 2026+"

"Bright, light straw-yellow with a green-gold hue, very slightly watery on edge. The nose is gentle and elegantly presented with aromas of preserved lime, lemon peels, herbs and a flinty mineral undertone. A touch of cashew note is developing, resting on a creamy yeast contact element. Dry to taste, medium-full bodied, complex aromas of preserved lime and lemon, lemon peels have focus and tension, unfolding guava and grassy nuances. A soft note of white pepper lifting delicate floral, along with lemon sherbet and flinty minerals to a sustained, long finish. Mouthwatering acidity has vitality and is integrated with the fruit and oak components, expend the wine in length and breadth. The long ageing and extended fine lees contact contribute to a supple and creamy mouthfeel along a powdery fine phenolic line. This is a barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc with complexing flavours of citrus, herbs and flintiness, presented with focus and tension along a supple texture line. Match with pork & fennel meatballs and pancetta-wrapped chicken ballotine over the next 6-8 years."

"It is dry and full bodied thanks to 100% barrel fermentation in old French oak, which adds savoury notes and depth as well as a smooth texture. It has creamy flavours to burn and a long, zesty, citrusy finish."

"Alluring scents of ripe citrus and apple, peach, quince and a touch of golden kiwifruit followed by spices and mild toasty barrel layers, vanilla and raw sugar then a gun-flint soil complexity. On the palate – youthful and vibrant with layers of barrel spice and wood underpinning flavours of stone fruit and citrus reflecting the bouquet. Fine wood tannins, medium+ acidity, knocking on the door of full-bodied and a satin texture showcases bot this wines deliciousness now, potential for cellaring and readiness for food. Well made, youthful and best cellared for a while longer with best drinking from late 2021 through 2029+."

"A complex chardonnay with guava, lime and lightly grilled-peach aromas, as well as flint and toasted hazelnut. The palate has an impressively taut and concentrated feel with praline, hazelnut, peach and lemon flavors all intertwined. Good depth."

"Attractive, earthy and spicy aromas are wound seamlessly into bright, red and darker cherries. This is complex and fragrant with dialed-in oak. The palate has impressively red-cherry flavors with succulent acidity and smooth, fluid tannins. Composed finish. Drink or hold."

Restrained but well-layered and pretty aromas combine notes of plum and dark currant with those of spice and violet. There is fine richness to the delicious and appealingly vibrant medium weight flavors that possess a velvety texture, all wrapped in a moderately firm and youthfully austere finale that is sneaky long. This is already lovely though a wine that should easily repay extended cellaring. Worth checking out.