2020 Dog Point Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc Organic, Marlborough

Layers of crushed stones, smoked almonds, green apples, lemon pith, white pepper, licorice and oyster shells. It's so powerful and concentrated. Tightly wound and phenolic with a medium body and sharp acidity. Intense, and just keeps going. Always a sophisticated and complex sauvignon blanc. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

95 points James Suckling

A bold, complex aroma of flint, gunsmoke and graphite with guava, passionfruit and crisp apple. The wine has plenty of intensity but it is contained within a tight frame so there's a sleekness and drive to the palate. A long, smoky finish completes this powerful, delicious wine 21 Jan 2026 Drink 2026–2029

93 points Jane Skillton MW therealreview.com

From some of the oldest organically farmed vineyards in Marlborough, Dog Point Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc offers a profound and textural reinterpretation of New Zealand’s most famous grape. Founded by Ivan Sutherland and James Healy, both instrumental in Marlborough’s early wine story, Dog Point has built a cult following for wines that prioritise vineyard integrity, wild fermentation and minimal intervention. Section 94 is named after the original vineyard parcel planted in 1992, with barrel fermentation and extended lees ageing shaping a Sauvignon Blanc of remarkable complexity and structure.

A pale lemon gold with subtle green highlights gleams in the glass. Aromas unfold slowly with grapefruit zest, white peach and preserved lemon layered with struck flint, almond meal, smoky reduction and delicate herbal notes. There is an immediate sense of seriousness and intrigue, far removed from overtly pungent styles.

The palate is dry, textural and finely sculpted, delivering citrus and stone fruit flavours wrapped around vibrant acidity and a gently phenolic grip. Nuances of toast, lanolin and saline minerality build through the mid palate, leading to a long, resonant finish that feels both powerful and restrained. Built for the cellar, this organic Sauvignon Blanc will evolve beautifully over ten to fifteen years, gaining layers of honeyed complexity, savoury depth and tertiary nuance.

Think grilled lobster brushed with butter, roast chicken with lemon and herbs, or a rich mushroom tart shared as the evening unfolds. A record like Talk Talk Laughing Stock or something quietly atmospheric from Brian Eno spinning in the background, the wine guiding the mood into deeper, more contemplative territory.