Sauvignon Blanc 2023

The grapes are hand-picked from eight separate vineyard parcels owned by Dog Point within the Wairau Valley. Yields are around 50 hl/ha (so not far from Grand Cru Bordeaux in a good year). Their Sauvignon Blanc is mainly planted on free draining silty clay loams on the flats of the valley, as these express intense citrus and grapefruit flavors. Dog Point operates under what is called the “Biogro” program, an initiative to promote the production of premium quality wine utilizing environmentally friendly and responsible practices, details of which are further down.

The handpicked fruit was sorted both in the vineyard and again at the winery. The grapes were then whole-cluster pressed, reducing the extraction of vegetative pyrazines and bitter anthocyanins, and fermented in stainless steel using a combination of indigenous and cultured yeasts. The wine was then aged for 4 months in tanks, bottled without fining, and aged further in bottle.

A mild spring after a wet winter in 2022 gave the vines a good start to growth. Budburst timing occurred around average from early September with only a few minor frost events occurring after that. Flowering in November was during a period of cool and grey conditions which managed to produce a respectable yield. December continued with drizzly weather, meaning an exceptionally large amount of work was required to maintain healthy fruit into January. March and April returned to more settled, drier conditions, giving the vines a chance to ripen in beautiful conditions, with our classic, cool overnight temperatures and sunny days.

Pale straw. Pure and bright perfume with aromatics of grapefruit and white peach. Subtle smoke and gravelly tones layered over this create a complexity beyond the immediate fruit profile. Juicy, plush, white fleshed fruit pour across the palate with a refreshing and defined acidity balancing the sunny fruit profile, finishing clean and dry. Drinks beautifully now or can comfortably be cellared for five years or more.

Dog Point have farmed organically for over a decade, are now certified. From a sustainability standpoint, their major work is with turning vine pruning and mulch into organic compost for use on the property; planting cover crop to encourage beneficial insects for biological control of pests; and bringing in 2,500 sheep and 25 steers in the winter to keep weeds down and add organic matter to the soil.