Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Vintage: 2022
Variety: Chardonnay
Alcohol volume: 13.0%
Closure: Screwcap

Appearance
Deep straw in colour.

Aroma
Warm tones of ripe citrus are complimented with savoury, mealy notes which developed over time on lees. The fine grained oak flavours sit in the background and add layers to the wine with hints of smoke, threading the wood and the fruit together.

Palate
Pure citrus flavours lead on the palate with a build up of nutty complexity and oatmeal notes. The glycerol textures and slippery, saline acidity offer refreshment and drive through to the finish. A chardonnay with immediate drinkability.

Region notes
Marlborough home vineyards on clay hill slopes and surrounding foothills.

Cellaring potential
Drinks beautifully now or can be cellared for 10+ years.

Vinification
Hand picked and gently pressed, prior to a brief overnight settling of the juice. 100% wild primary and secondary fermentations in barrel (10% new) over eighteen months. Bottled without fining and with only minimal filtration.

Vintage notes
A mild spring after a wet winter in 2021 gave the vines a good start to growth. Budburst occurred around average timing from early September with only a few frost events occurring. Flowering was kind and produced what would have been a favourable yield. However, December and February brought significant rainfall (more than 200mm) to the usually dry period, giving the vines renewed vigour but unfortunately also increased the threat of disease. Hand dropping of diseased bunches was paramount to retain quality. This resulted in a smaller than expected harvest but one with ample classic fruit driven characters.

Shanteh Wale
96 Points
Some enticing theatre popcorn, sparkler flint and lemon candies. Peach pit meets yellow plums and buttered crumpets. Subtle walnut skin and powdered nutmeg. Where some chardonnays may be released too early or late, the release timing of Dog Point is always premeditated and this is in a very sweet spot. It's a wealth of lemon skin zest, squeezed pineapple slices and the fine sandpaper texture that has you reaching for a lobster trap. This also has the ability to be a bit of a chameleon, adapting well to fatty fried foods and sharp cheese equally well. A stellar vintage of their iconic chardonnay.

Emma Jenkins MW
95 Points
Richly aromatic with notes of lemon meringue, grapefruit, white peach, oatmeal, sizzled butter, hazelnuts and a pretty lift of white flowers. While flinty reduction is a key aspect of Dog Point’s house style (albeit more dialled back than in earlier years), it’s the silken, assured palate with its rich fruit, fine acidity, concentration and balance that seduces. Appellation Marlborough Wine certified.


Stephen Wong
94 Points
Evident, savoury reduction here which reluctantly gives way to a driven, mouth-filling and concentrated palate with hazelnut, grilled citrus and oak. Elegant and well-defined with excellent acid structure. Very young, it is clearly impressive and made in a modern fashion. One to put away for a year or two: it has the balance to develop slowly and gain complexity.

#74
94 Points
Very beautiful with sliced cooked apples, pie crust, dried Meyer lemons and lemon curd. Hints of flint. Full-bodied and layered, this has pretty phenolic tension and a flavorful, tangy finish. A complete and balanced Chardonnay. Two-thirds Mendoza clone (Wente). Average vine age is 30 years old. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap.