The Wines

"A wine that catches you off guard with its familiar waft of candle wax and sparkler flint. There’s a wistful white floral aroma of frangipani and freesia drawing you in. As it opens, notes of pomelo, white pear and pineapple emerge. The wine then lights up like fireworks – the soft, sparkling kind – revealing hints of lemonade, yellow melon and a glittering acidity that is carefully bridled. Nuances of celery heart and fresh ginger follow, adding complexity. It is exquisite in its balance – teetering tropical notes, the fragility of herbal suggestion and an utterly moreish finish."

"This is the first time that this Sauvignon Blanc has been made with 100% wild yeasts, something that is set to continue. A flinty, slate complexity comes into view on the palate, tensile and tangy, fleshy through the middle, holding citrus and apple at its core with a dusting of fresh cut herbs, dill and green tea. As dry, crisp and as fresh as they come, delightfully so."

"Aromas of grapefruit, brine, green olives and limes. Medium- to full-bodied, linear and vibrant, with definition. Restrained exuberance and a touch of salinity in the finish."

"Complex and highly detailed, with notes of honeysuckle and lemon oil, plus touches of saline and grilled Meyer lemon. Yuzu, pomelo and citron flavors, along with lemongrass and fresh ginger, linger effortlessly on a sleek, mouthwatering frame."

"Zingy with salty lightness and a flinty edge, this rather delicate style inhabits a middle ground with floral notes and cloudy apple juice flavours rather than anything overtly herbaceous. Subtly long and zingy, the length is currently interrupted by some harder chalky phenolics and flinty reduction, but it will settle somewhat with time in bottle."

"Hand harvested, whole-bunch pressed and aged for 18 months in seasoned French oak. This is a wine that consistently delivers, while ageing at a glacial rate, almost beyond belief. At five years, this is showing Meyer lemon, cantaloupe and Alphonse mango skin. Mock orange blossoms, honeysuckle and struck sandstone flint. The palate curls into creamy candlenut and oatmeal, then circles back to its citrus and tropical fruit core. It's languid and slightly oily, persistent and long. A wine for rewiring your brain and taste buds on what great sauvignon can do."

"A towering wine deeply rich in flavour that sends an important message about the grape. Don't ever write Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc off just some "bungee jump into a gooseberry bush" - as famously described by one wine writer - it can be so, so much more. For starters, Section 94 is sourced off a single organic vineyard, fermented in seasoned French oak and is undoubtedly higher in alcohol (14% ABV) than most and comes with more bottle age than most. Mid gold hues. A deep, rich scent filled with jasmine, apple blossom, notes of asparagus, wild herbs and ginger. There is an equally deep flavour, quite idiosyncratic and intense. In part, it has to do with the ripeness of the fruit that moves into peach and nectarine with preserved lemon savouriness. It rolls and rolls over the tongue, almost syrupy in texture, with an added wildness of herbs, ginger and citrus. Finishes on a note of lemon pastille. Riveting stuff."

"This is a beautiful and complex wine with sliced apples, lemons, bread dough and salted pie crust. Some grass. Always subtle and complex yet shows intensity. Medium body. Lovely acid balance and an excellent finish. White pepper. Dry. Always excellent."

"Aromatic, complex, succulent and fleshy, offering flavors of beeswax, litsea oil and peach preserves, with candied ginger and honeysuckle accents. A whiff of smoke mingles with the crisp citrus and herbal notes at the lip-smacking core."

Light, lively with strong green-fruit notes. Rich underneath.

"A masterclass in alternative Sauvignon Blanc – reductive notes open into a firm, fleshy, medium-bodied wine with superb acid drive. Textural, layered and fruit forward with aromatic layers of fresh herbs, hints of tropical fruit notes and more."

"Hand picked from the Home vineyard, with vines dating back to 1984. Whole-bunch pressed and matured in French oak, 10% new, for 18 months. A tight wire of Buddha’s hand citrus, lemon gum oil and yellow peach fuzz leads the nose, followed by a flicker of toasted coconut and creamy oak dust. Quince and loquat notes weave through the profile. On the palate, it is total seduction, with acidity nestled into every crevice and undulating waves of citrus supported by orchard fruit. There’s a lacy, finely woven skin grip and a laser-like line of fruit that carries on and on. There is so much to unpack, yet you’ll find your glass empty far too quickly. This vintage is holding its shape and fruit freshness incredibly well."

"The Mendoza clone of Chardonnay is a dominant force in the New Zealand wine scene: highly individual, full of flavour and ever ready with a saline, sea spray quality that gets the lips smacking. Dog Point does it better than many, capturing those qualities beautifully. Light gold hues. Flint, struck match, peach, nectarine, melon, citrus and citrus blossom aromas. A full, rich expression with French oak (10% new) playing an influence with its smoky toastiness, nougat nutty notes, and a second malolactic fermentation allowing the textural warmth of the wine to shine. A tightly coiled palate brings stone fruits, citrus, cardamom, bergamot and the kind of grippy tartness you get from sucking on grapefruit pith. All up, it’s one complex young Chardonnay with a long life ahead."

"The 2023 Chardonnay is incredibly tightly coiled and mineral on the nose, with white flowers, crushed shells, wet chalk and white pepper. This is overwhelming “white” in character, and I love it. The saline, mineral aspect of it is highly attractive to me, and as it unfolds like an origami paper crane through the finish, it shows precision and finesse in equal measure. While 2022 may have been a challenging vintage in the vineyard, they saw none of that it in the 2023 season. This is sapid and penetrating in its quiet way. Wow."

"Pretty, zesty and almost Sauvignon-Blanc-like. Dry finish. Still very youthful."

"A precise, driven and vibrant chardonnay with aromas of lemons, sweet spices, flint and brioche. Medium-bodied with bright acidity. So focused, with plenty of drive and patina on the palate. Succulent and tactile, with a long, bright finish. Good value. From organically grown grapes."

"Evident smoke and savoury reduction supported by nutty, toasty oak and crisp, tangy cool-cimate fruit: green apple, lime and white pepper. The dense, mid-weight flavours are compact, underpinned by lip-smacking acidity and dusty, cinnamon oak tannins. A suggestion of creamy yoghurt is met by firm phenolics on the finish. It could be approached now but will be better in a year or two."

"A soft and juicy pinot noir with aromas of dried strawberries, crab apples and hints of meat, cocoa powder and oranges. Medium-bodied, crunchy and dusty. Delicious now."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."