The Wines

"Intense, precise sauvignon blanc with grapefruit, citrus, subtle passionfruit and a suggestion of struck flint character. A powerful wine that’s long and linear, with strong varietal definition that’s made more interesting with a hint of reductive character."

"A powerful yet controlled even complex bouquet of sauvignon blanc with aromas of apples and white flowers, wet stones and grapefruit, sweet hay, gooseberry and white peach. Tense, youthful, vibrant, varietal and packed with energy. A core of fruit reflects the impact and power from the bouquet, zippy acidity, some fruit spice and sweet hay all leading to a long finish. What’s not to like! Drink now and through 2021."

"This exceptional wine is highly aromatic, weighty and sweet-fruited, with intense, ripely herbaceous flavours and a crisp, very long finish. Certified organic."

"Very slightly reductive, struck-match nose and extra-bright fruit with strong passionfruit aromas and a certain amount of delicacy. Chalky finish. Lots of interest here. Very youthful and energetic indeed. Complimenti!"

"Very vivid, fresh passion fruit, lemon, yellow grapefruit and lime here with well cut, flinty elements in play. Some herb and lime-leaf notes too. The palate has fresh, lively and assertively zesty lime and passion-fruit flavors with a succulent, fleshy feel and big impact. Drink now."

"Mouthwatering and vivid, with a laser beam of focus and intensity to the Meyer lemon, ruby grapefruit and dried mango flavors. Peppery white flower aromas and a touch of freshly grated ginger add complexity."

"Perhaps the most complex regular Savvy I can recall from Dog Point, the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc offers up aromas that range from subtle notions of garden peas to melon, nectarine and pink grapefruit. It’s medium-bodied and silky in texture, generous yet crisp, with a focused, slightly chalky and deliciously lingering finish."

"Lovely weight on the midpalate, providing a feeling of sumptuousness. This was whole-bunch-pressed and hand-harvested, and neutral yeast was used (20% wild), which has created an air of restraint. Yes, there are classic passion fruit and gooseberry flavors, bu the volume is turned down, and a citrus backbone offers a fresh, composed conclusion."

"The flinty Dog Point style is quite original for Marlborough, so don’t expect the classic fruit explosion. Yet  2019 sees a slight pull back, featuring less marked ‘sulfide’ character and far more grapefruit and citrus, passion fruit and guava flavours. As such it will surely appeal more widely. Length and depth, and overall composition, are at the usual top level."

"Hand-picked from its own vineyards in Marlborough, Dog Point's Sauvignon is bright, crisp and super-fresh, more typical in Marlborough style than the barrel-fermented 'Section 94' cuvee, with huge punch and verve. Passionfruit is there, with tropical notes suggesting lychee and guava, a touch of capsicum, but really all about the fruit. In the mouth the texture has some richness and mealiness to it, the citrus blast of the acidity balanced perfectly against the more unctuous, tropical fruit into a dry and beautifully balanced finish. Typical and yet not, this is a fine example of Marlborough's unique Sauvignon style."

"This ranks among the country’s greatest oak-aged Sauvignon Blancs. The very classy 2013 vintage, held back to acquire bottle age, is also on sale in late 2019. 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."

Subtle oak allows stone-fruit, mineral, citrus, struck match and nutty lees flavours to take centre stage here. It contributes to the wine’s rich and creamy texture. Complex, with a funky character.

"Complex, developing bouquet with aromas of preserved lemon and quince, peaches and apples, a core of stony minerality, layers of lees spice and a completeness. Equally complex on the palate, calm and confident, balanced and still fresh. Flavours reflect the nose with preserved citrus, apple and stone fruit highlights. The lees and acidity along with barrel ageing give this wine a fresh silky texture and lengthy finish. Balanced and ready, complex and long. Drink now and through 2024+."

"Bright medium-yellow colour, with a smoky oak-dominated bouquet, the varietal fruit is obscured at this juncture. The palate is dry and refreshing, crisp and lip-smacking in its acidity. Long carry. The herbal notes on the palate are somewhat varietal, but the wine doesn’t have typical Marlborough pungency."

A stunning expression of sauvignon that marries complexity and purity to exalted effect. The nose is all tight-wound sulphides and grapefruit citrus, really breathtaking lemon rind and lime leaf here too. The palate has a core of scintillatingly pure grapefruit citrus flavor, a wealth of fleshy textural presence and a core of fine driving acidity. Terrific nutty nuanced resolve.

Bright, pale yellow. Flinty, sulfidey reduction to the aromas of citrus, yellow fruits and smoky minerals. Large-scaled and rich, with sexy oak-driven sweetness to the deep flavors of yellow fruits, fresh herbs, minerals and spices. A very round big boy, with well-judged oak, harmonious acidity and excellent slowly building tactile length. This bottling is routinely one of the best barrel-aged Sauvignons from Marlborough.

"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+."

"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."

"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."

"Intense, precise sauvignon blanc with grapefruit, citrus, subtle passionfruit and a suggestion of struck flint character. A powerful wine that’s long and linear, with strong varietal definition that’s made more interesting with a hint of reductive character."

"A powerful yet controlled even complex bouquet of sauvignon blanc with aromas of apples and white flowers, wet stones and grapefruit, sweet hay, gooseberry and white peach. Tense, youthful, vibrant, varietal and packed with energy. A core of fruit reflects the impact and power from the bouquet, zippy acidity, some fruit spice and sweet hay all leading to a long finish. What’s not to like! Drink now and through 2021."

"This exceptional wine is highly aromatic, weighty and sweet-fruited, with intense, ripely herbaceous flavours and a crisp, very long finish. Certified organic."

"Very slightly reductive, struck-match nose and extra-bright fruit with strong passionfruit aromas and a certain amount of delicacy. Chalky finish. Lots of interest here. Very youthful and energetic indeed. Complimenti!"

"Very vivid, fresh passion fruit, lemon, yellow grapefruit and lime here with well cut, flinty elements in play. Some herb and lime-leaf notes too. The palate has fresh, lively and assertively zesty lime and passion-fruit flavors with a succulent, fleshy feel and big impact. Drink now."

"Mouthwatering and vivid, with a laser beam of focus and intensity to the Meyer lemon, ruby grapefruit and dried mango flavors. Peppery white flower aromas and a touch of freshly grated ginger add complexity."

"Perhaps the most complex regular Savvy I can recall from Dog Point, the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc offers up aromas that range from subtle notions of garden peas to melon, nectarine and pink grapefruit. It’s medium-bodied and silky in texture, generous yet crisp, with a focused, slightly chalky and deliciously lingering finish."

"Lovely weight on the midpalate, providing a feeling of sumptuousness. This was whole-bunch-pressed and hand-harvested, and neutral yeast was used (20% wild), which has created an air of restraint. Yes, there are classic passion fruit and gooseberry flavors, bu the volume is turned down, and a citrus backbone offers a fresh, composed conclusion."

"The flinty Dog Point style is quite original for Marlborough, so don’t expect the classic fruit explosion. Yet  2019 sees a slight pull back, featuring less marked ‘sulfide’ character and far more grapefruit and citrus, passion fruit and guava flavours. As such it will surely appeal more widely. Length and depth, and overall composition, are at the usual top level."

"Hand-picked from its own vineyards in Marlborough, Dog Point's Sauvignon is bright, crisp and super-fresh, more typical in Marlborough style than the barrel-fermented 'Section 94' cuvee, with huge punch and verve. Passionfruit is there, with tropical notes suggesting lychee and guava, a touch of capsicum, but really all about the fruit. In the mouth the texture has some richness and mealiness to it, the citrus blast of the acidity balanced perfectly against the more unctuous, tropical fruit into a dry and beautifully balanced finish. Typical and yet not, this is a fine example of Marlborough's unique Sauvignon style."

"This ranks among the country’s greatest oak-aged Sauvignon Blancs. The very classy 2013 vintage, held back to acquire bottle age, is also on sale in late 2019. 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."

Subtle oak allows stone-fruit, mineral, citrus, struck match and nutty lees flavours to take centre stage here. It contributes to the wine’s rich and creamy texture. Complex, with a funky character.

"Complex, developing bouquet with aromas of preserved lemon and quince, peaches and apples, a core of stony minerality, layers of lees spice and a completeness. Equally complex on the palate, calm and confident, balanced and still fresh. Flavours reflect the nose with preserved citrus, apple and stone fruit highlights. The lees and acidity along with barrel ageing give this wine a fresh silky texture and lengthy finish. Balanced and ready, complex and long. Drink now and through 2024+."

"Bright medium-yellow colour, with a smoky oak-dominated bouquet, the varietal fruit is obscured at this juncture. The palate is dry and refreshing, crisp and lip-smacking in its acidity. Long carry. The herbal notes on the palate are somewhat varietal, but the wine doesn’t have typical Marlborough pungency."

A stunning expression of sauvignon that marries complexity and purity to exalted effect. The nose is all tight-wound sulphides and grapefruit citrus, really breathtaking lemon rind and lime leaf here too. The palate has a core of scintillatingly pure grapefruit citrus flavor, a wealth of fleshy textural presence and a core of fine driving acidity. Terrific nutty nuanced resolve.

Bright, pale yellow. Flinty, sulfidey reduction to the aromas of citrus, yellow fruits and smoky minerals. Large-scaled and rich, with sexy oak-driven sweetness to the deep flavors of yellow fruits, fresh herbs, minerals and spices. A very round big boy, with well-judged oak, harmonious acidity and excellent slowly building tactile length. This bottling is routinely one of the best barrel-aged Sauvignons from Marlborough.

"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. 

"Hand-picked from its own vineyards in Marlborough, Dog Point's Sauvignon is bright, crisp and super-fresh, more typical in Marlborough style than the barrel-fermented 'Section 94' cuvee, with huge punch and verve. Passionfruit is there, with tropical notes suggesting lychee and guava, a touch of capsicum, but really all about the fruit. In the mouth the texture has some richness and mealiness to it, the citrus blast of the acidity balanced perfectly against the more unctuous, tropical fruit into a dry and beautifully balanced finish. Typical and yet not, this is a fine example of Marlborough's unique Sauvignon style."