2020 Dog Point - Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Section 94 (750ml)

Dog Point Vineyard was founded by Ivan Sutherland and James Healy, both formerly of Cloudy Bay, who set out to make wine from Sutherland's own vineyards in the Wairau Valley after leaving that winery. The estate has since grown into New Zealand's largest certified organic vineyard, producing a small, focused portfolio built around uncompromising quality and low-intervention winemaking. Section 94 stands as the partnership's signature bottling, an evolution of the barrel-fermented style Healy first developed while at Cloudy Bay.

Sourced from a single parcel of vines planted in 1992, Section 94 is grown on free-draining silty clay loam soils that concentrate citrus and grapefruit character in the fruit. The grapes are hand-picked at low yields, a rarity in Marlborough, then whole-bunch pressed and fermented entirely with native yeasts. The wine spends eighteen months aging in older French oak barrels with extended lees contact, and it is bottled without fining and only minimal filtration, preserving its textural depth.

Golden in the glass, this vintage shows roasted nuts, grilled pineapple, and lemon oil layered with a whiff of gun smoke, while the palate stays rich yet restrained, carried by bright acidity into a long finish. It suits richer dishes like roasted salmon, roast chicken, or soft-ripened cheeses.