Dog Point - Malborough Sauvignon Blanc Section 94 2018

Decanter

About the wine:

Ivan Sutherland and James Healy met in Cloudy Bay, then joined forces to found this estate in 2004. Section 94 comes from a plot in the Dog Point vineyard - the largest certified organic plot in New Zealand. The fruit is hand-picked, whole-cluster pressed, then fermented and aged with wild yeast in old French oak barrels for 18 months. Bottled without fining. Roger Jones: The nose tells you everything - a delicate fragrance with crisp white stone fruits, delicate herbaceous notes, clean, precise citrus. Classic. Freddy Bulmer: Fairly soft nose showing good evolution, but still a fresh, vibrant wine. Creamy and intelligent, nice texture, good weight on the palate, delicious sweet spices. Cat Lomax: Hazelnut, savory toast, hints of spice with a bit of toasted match. Punch, depth, rounded citrus, dried mango, hazelnut. Creamy texture, freshness and relief. 2024-2034

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Section 94 is beginning to assert itself, showing concentration and structure. It's a sophisticated, serious style that doesn't rely on Sauvignon Blanc's natural thiols, but rather on restrained fruit, aromas from winemaking and bottle age, creating complexity. We can expect subtle aromas of nectarine, almond and lanolin. It's concentrated, compact, structured and intense, like a dart working its way through the core of the wine. The 2018 is quite different from previous vintages, with less reduction, but also the decision to cellar the wine for 6-7 years (the goal for this cuvée going forward), which has allowed it to develop. 2024-2032

James Suckling

About the wine:

This is a gorgeous, complex wine with apple slices, lemons, bread dough and savory pie crust. Some grassiness. Still subtle and complex, but with great intensity. Medium body. Nice acid balance and excellent finish. White pepper. Dry. Still excellent. Drink now. Screw cap.