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Tasting Notes
Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Our version of the classic dry aromatic style of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The citrus core of flavours are juicy and intense with deliciously refreshing saline acidity. The wine calls for simple fresh seafood but can also be enjoyed as a pre-dinner aperitif.
Grapes are picked from eight of our own vineyards within the Wairau Valley. Cropped at an average of 10 tonnes/hectare. The fruit is whole bunch pressed, cold settled before fermentation and 4 months aging in stainless steel tanks. A portion of this wine is fermented using indigenous yeast. Bottled without fining.
Reviews
5 StarsMichael Cooper
"The youthful 2024 has all the signs of a top vintage. Bright, light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling, sweet-fruited and tightly structured, with deep, vigorous, passionfruit/lime flavours, good acid spine and a dry, sustained finish."
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Tasting Notes
Section 94 2018
A complex full bodied style of Sauvignon Blanc with a chalky minerality and fresh herbal influence, complimented by a vibrant acidity which gives the wine focus. Suggested food matches for Section 94 include fish (particularly salmon), poultry and soft white cheeses.
This single vineyard parcel is situated within the Dog Point Vineyard, using the same low cropping level from vines planted in 1992. Fruit is hand-picked, whole bunch pressed and fermented and aged in older French oak barrels for 18 months. Bottled without fining.
Reviews
96 PointsDecanter - Sauvignon Blanc panel tasting
Roger Jones: The nose tells you everything – delicate perfume with crisp white stone fruit, delicate herbaceous notes, clean precise citrus. Classic. Freddy Bulmer: Fairly mellow nose showing some nice development, though still a fresh and vibrant wine. Creamy and smart, lovely texture, good palate weight, delicious sweet spices. Cat Lomax: Hazelnut, savoury toast, hints of spice with a little struck match. Punch, depth, rounded citrus, dried mango, hazelnut. Creamy texture, fresh and lifted.
96 PointsBob Campbell, The Real Review, Sept 2023
"Intense, oak-matured sauvignon blanc with lemongrass, oyster shell, ginger, spicy oak and nutty yeast lees flavours. Bright, complex and satisfying wine that takes Marlborough sauvignon to a different level."
96 PointsCameron Douglas, MS
"Fantastic bouquet with a complexity and pungency, a varietal signature of ripe grapefruit and fresh herb, there’s a mineral and smokiness then aromas of peach and cape gooseberry, apple and moments of tropical fruits. On the palate a fine satin texture touches first then flavours of gooseberry and citrus, peach and apple, and a distinctive complexity from barrel fermentation and wild ferment aromas of wild flowers. The backbone of acidity deposits flavours and mineral throughout the palate as well as mouthfeel and youthful tension. Well made, complex and lengthy. In short a delicious wine and excellent SB expression. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2028+."
95 PointsTim Atkin
"Fans of the mass-produced, bungee jump into a gooseberry style of Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc might note appreciate the ambition or the layered complexity of this wooded, wild yeast-fermented style from the Dog Point team. But tough on them. It's one of the most complex whites in New Zealand, with notes of gunflint, blackcurrant leaf and vanilla spice, lots of racy, mouth-watering acidity and a savoury finish. Deliberately released late by James Healy and Ivan Sutherland's in order to challenge received notions about Sauvignon Blanc."
94 PointsMary-Ann Worobiec, Wine Spectator, USA
"Fragrant, intense and succulent, with distinctive honeysuckle, chamomile, spicy marmalade and ripe peach flavors on a fleshy frame, showing a touch of lanolin. Notes of mango, mineral and candied ginger emerge on the finish."
94 PointsRebecca Gibb, Vinous
'The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Section 94 is starting to come into its own, displaying its concentration and structure. It's a sophisticated, serious style that doesn't speak of Sauvignon Blanc’s natural thiols but more of restrained fruit, winemaking-derived flavors and bottle age, creating complexity. You can expect subtle nectarine flavors, almond and lanolin development. It is focused, compact, structured and intense, like a dart that works its way through the wine's core. The 2018 is rather different from previous vintages with less reduction, but also the move to hold back the wine for 6-7 years (the goal for this cuvée going forward), has allowed it to develop and marry. It feels like Section 94's promise is finally materializing."
17.5 PointsJancis Robinson, UK
"Mid coppery gold. Like the 2019 regular Dog Point Sauvignon, this has a strong struck-match character. I love it but not everyone will. The varietal character is almost submerged beneath the reductive fume. Much drier than the Sauvignon 2019. Really vibrant and deep. A New Zealand Sauvignon for white-burgundy fans."
94 PointsNick Stock on behalf of James Suckling
"The complex style is nicely dialed-in here, offering a fresh array of grilled lemon and peach with some gently nutty aromas, as well as a lime-curd edge. Really fresh. The palate has fleshy and smooth texture with praline-like flavors sitting on a fresh citrus and peach core."
93 PointsShanteh Wale, Wine Pilot
"Showcasing just what careful barrel ageing and time in the cellar can do. The 2018 Section 94 opens with mango skin, custard apple and lime oil. Sparkler flint, vanilla bean and preserved lemons. Great mid palate weight with wet sand, nutmeg and honeycomb. The wine walks a line of phenolic tension and supportive oak tannins. The ability to sit beside almost any main course dish is where this will shine. Drink now and will cellar for another 3 years. Juicy pork medallions and mustard sauce would work a treat."
5 starsMichael Cooper
"This ranks among the country's greatest oak-aged Sauvignon Blancs. Looking for 'texture, rather than rich aromatics', Dog Point fermented and lees-aged the 2018 vintage (5*), released in 2023, for 18 months in seasoned French oak casks. Hand-harvested in the Dog Point Vineyard (for which 'Section 94' was the original survey title), at the confluence of the Brancott and Omaka valleys, and fermented with indigenous yeasts, it is a powerful, complex, distinctive wine. Pale gold, it is mouthfilling, with deep, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, gentle biscuity notes, balanced acidity, and a long, dry, savoury finish. Drink now or cellar. Certified organic."
18.5/20 PointsJoelle Thomson
"Cellar releases are fabulous things and Dog Point's iconic Section 94 is always a late release these days as its flinty freshness and lively citrus notes really start to come into their own when the wine has aged and evolved. This six-year-old wine is the current release. Its piercing purity of citrusy acidity is supported by a creamy mouthfeel, and the weight of full oak fermentation in French oak barrels adds texture to each sip."
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Tasting Notes
Chardonnay 2022
A pure, bright and youthful citrus driven chardonnay with complex smoky, flint, toast and biscuit notes derived from extended barrel aging on full solids. The hallmarks of Dog Point chardonnay are ever present here with pure saline and crisp palate structure. This vintage will have the ability to age well. Perfect match with scallops, white fish, poultry and BBQ pork.
2/3 Mendoza, 1/3 B95 clones hand-picked from our home vineyard at 2.5 tonnes/ha, from vines dating back to 1984. Fruit is whole bunch pressed and transferred directly to French oak barrels (10% new) and left to undergo indigenous primary and secondary malolactic fermentations for 18 months in barrel. Bottled without fining and with only minimal filtration.
Reviews
5 StarsMichael Cooper, NZ
"This classy wine is estate-grown and hand-picked on the south side of the Wairau Valley, fermented and matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (typically 10 per cent new), and given a full, softening malolactic fermentation. The 2022 vintage (*****) was harvested from vines averaging 28-years-old. Bright, light lemon/green, it is still a baby, but already approachable. Mouthfilling, vibrantly fruity and savoury, it has rich stonefruit flavours, gently seasoned with biscuity oak, lively acidity and a tight, finely poised finish. Best drinking 2027+. Certified organic."
94 PointsStephen Wong, The Real Review
"Evident, savoury reduction here which reluctantly gives way to a driven mouth-filling and concentrated palate with hazelnut, grilled citrus and oak. Elegant and well-defined with excellent acid structure. Very young, it is clearly impressive and made in a modern fashion. One to put away for a year or two: it has the balance to develop slowly and gain complexity."
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Tasting Notes
Pinot Noir 2022
A bright perfumed, supple expression of Marlborough pinot noir from clay hill slopes. The fruit is supported by bright florals of rose and violets with crunchy red berry fruit and dried herb notes. The palate is succulent with alluring red cherry, brown spices and silky fine boned tannins. This wine has all the makings of a long lived Marlborough pinot noir and matches perfectly with duck, red meats (particularly venison and lamb), and mushroom dishes.
Comprising six different pinot noir clones from vines dating back to 1983. Vines are cropped at 5 tonnes/ha (35hl/ha), hand harvested and hand sorted, prior to de-stemming (25% whole bunch included). The fruit is fermented in small stainless open top fermenters without pumping. Fermentation is conducted by indigenous yeasts over a period of 2-3 weeks prior to pressing into French oak barrels (30% new) for 18 months.
Reviews
5 StarsMichael Cooper
"This classy, finely structured red is estate-grown on the south side of the Wairau Valley, hand-picked and matured for 18 months in French oak barriques. The 2022 vintage has a fragrant, savoury, youthful bouquet. Full, bright ruby, it has layers of berry, plum, spice and nut flavours, fresh acidity, and very impressive harmony, complexity and length."
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Tasting Notes
Sauvignon Blanc Magnum 2023
Our version of the classic dry aromatic style of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The citrus core of flavours are juicy and intense with deliciously refreshing saline acidity. The wine calls for simple fresh seafood but can also be enjoyed as a pre-dinner aperitif with or without social distancing. One of the best vintages the region has experienced in years.
Grapes are hand-picked from eight of our own vineyards within the Wairau Valley. Cropped at an average of 10 tonnes/hectare. The fruit is whole bunch pressed, cold settled before fermentation and 4 months aging in stainless steel tanks. A portion of this wine is fermented using indigenous yeast. Bottled without fining.
Reviews
95 PointsBob Campbell
"Bright, fresh wine with typical varietal/regional characters including capsicum, gooseberry, lemongrass and passionfruit. Appealing purity with a perfect sweet/sour balance. A pleasure to taste."
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Tasting Notes
Section 94 Magnum 2018
A complex full bodied style of Sauvignon Blanc with a chalky minerality and fresh herbal influence, complimented by a vibrant acidity which gives the wine focus. Suggested food matches for Section 94 include fish (particularly salmon), poultry and soft white cheeses.
This single vineyard parcel is situated within the Dog Point Vineyard, using the same low cropping level from vines planted in 1992. Fruit is hand-picked, whole bunch pressed and fermented and aged in older French oak barrels for 18 months. Bottled without fining.
Reviews
96 PointsBob Campbell
"Intense, oak-matured sauvignon blanc with lemongrass, oyster shell, ginger, spicy oak and nutty yeast lees flavours. Bright, complex and satisfying wine that takes Marlborough sauvignon to a different level."
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Tasting Notes
Chardonnay Magnum 2021
A pure, bright and youthful citrus driven chardonnay with complex smokey, flint, toast and biscuit notes derived from extended barrel aging on full solids. The hallmarks of Dog Point chardonnay are ever present here with pure saline and crisp palate structure. This vintage will have the ability to age well. Perfect match with scallops, white fish, poultry and BBQ pork.
2/3 Mendoza, 1/3 B95 clones hand-picked from our home vineyard at 5 tonnes/ha (30hl/ha), from vines dating back to 1981. Fruit is whole bunch pressed and transferred directly to French oak barrels (10% new) and left to undergo indigenous primary and secondary malolactic fermentations for 18 months in barrel. Bottled without fining and with only minimal filtration.
Reviews
96 PointsCameron Douglas MS, New Zealand
"Alluring scents of ripe citrus and apple, peach, quince and a touch of golden kiwifruit Fabulous bouquet and palate with aromas of fresh peach and gun-flint minerality, new and used barrel with a nutty cashew complexity, baked apple and quince. Delicious, fresh and dry with a satin touch, back bone of acidity and flavours of barrel, flint, mineral and oak. Fine tannins, a lengthy finish and delicious complexity."
96 PointsBob Campbell
"Intense, mouthwatering chardonnay with lime, pineapple, oyster shell/mineral, hazelnut and subtle spicy oak flavours. Delicious high-energy wine in a rather Chablis-esque style with purity and power."
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Tasting Notes
Pinot Noir Magnum 2021
A bright perfumed, supple expression of Marlborough pinot noir from clay hill slopes. The fruit is supported by bright florals of rose and violets with crunchy red berry fruit and dried herb notes. The palate is succulent with alluring red cherry, brown spices and silky fine boned tannins. This wine has all the makings of a long lived Marlborough pinot noir and matches perfectly with duck, red meats (particularly venison and lamb), and mushroom dishes.
Comprising six different pinot noir clones from vines dating back to 1983. Vines are cropped at 5 tonnes/ha (35hl/ha), hand harvested and hand sorted, prior to de-stemming (25% whole bunch included). The fruit is fermented in small stainless open top fermenters without pumping. Fermentation is conducted by indigenous yeasts over a period of 2-3 weeks prior to pressing into French oak barrels (30% new) for 18 months.
Reviews
95 PointsBob Campbell
"Intense, appealing pinot noir with subtle floral aromas together with concentrated red berry, dark chocolate, liquorice, wood smoke and spicy oak flavours. Powerful wine with obvious cellaring potential."
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Tasting Notes
Twin Pack: Sauvignon Blanc 2024 + Pinot Noir 2022 (750ml)
The perfect gift of a twin pack of Dog Point 2024 Sauvignon Blanc & 2022 Pinot Noir.
This pack includes 2 bottles of wine: 1 bottle of our version of the classic dry aromatic style of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The wine calls for simple fresh seafood but can also be enjoyed as a pre-dinner aperitif. Plus 1 bottle of our bright perfumed, supple expression of Marlborough pinot noir, the perfect match with red meats and mushroom dishes. A great gift idea or to share at a dinner party or summer BBQ with family and friends.
Reviews
90 PointsTom Cannavan
"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."