2024 Dog Point - Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough (750ml)

Dog Point Vineyard was founded by Ivan Sutherland and James Healy, both veterans of Cloudy Bay, and has grown into New Zealand's largest certified organic wine estate. The pair set out to make a Sauvignon Blanc that stood apart from the region's more exuberant, fruit-forward reputation, favoring a restrained, terroir-driven style built on low-intervention winemaking. That philosophy, paired with indigenous yeast fermentation and minimal handling, has made Dog Point one of the most closely watched producers in Marlborough.

The fruit for this wine is hand-picked from eight separate vineyard parcels the estate owns across the Wairau Valley, some planted with vines dating back to the 1970s on free-draining silty clay loam. The vineyards have been farmed organically for more than fifteen years, and yields are kept unusually low for the region to concentrate flavor. After sorting in both the vineyard and winery, the grapes are pressed as whole clusters to limit the extraction of bitter, vegetal compounds, then fermented in stainless steel using a combination of indigenous and cultured yeasts before resting briefly in tank ahead of bottling without fining.

The wine shows a bright straw-green color with aromas of grapefruit, lemon, and lime, joined by elderflower and a smoky, flinty edge from reduction. The palate is crisp and saline, with a chalky texture and a long, focused finish. It pairs beautifully with shellfish, salads, and other light seafood dishes.