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Dog Point Vineyard

Pinot Noir 2022

Marlborough

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Dog Point’s Pinot Noir is a head-turner because of the immense reputation they have as a Sauvignon Blanc producer. Their Pinot is not just good – it’s one of the very best in New Zealand, and truly world class. The intensive vineyard work they carry out to produce distinctive Sauvignon Blanc results in fantastically complex Pinot fruit when carried out in clay hillsides of Marlborough. And, in turn, their use of wild yeasts and long aging gives the wine a generosity and integration that provide both easy and intellectual pleasure.

VINEYARD

Dog Point grows Pinot Noir on the clay hill slopes, and more specifically has 6 clones that were planted starting in 1983. Vines are managed so that yields are 35 hl/ha, and as with all Dog Point wines, the picking is by hand (only 5% of New Zealand fruit is hand-picked). 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.

WINEMAKING

Hand picked and chilled overnight prior to hand-sorting. 70% destemmed and 30% whole bunches are fermented in small stainless open top fermenters with 100% indigenous yeasts over a period of 3 weeks. After pressing, the wine is aged in French oak barrels for eighteen months (30% new), and then bottled without fining or filtration.

VINTAGE

The 2022 vintage in Marlborough was a welcome return to abundance after the extremely lean 2021 crop. The season ended three consecutive years of drought, with significant rainfall from winter through late spring. A warm, dry January confirmed yields well above average, prompting many growers to green-harvest to maintain quality. A cold, wet February caught producers off guard, slowing the key ripening period and raising disease concerns. However, the season recovered well; warm, clear days drove phenolic ripeness while cool nights preserved acidity and aromatics.

TASTING NOTE

Deep ruby. Aromas of dark plum, baking spice and violet rise from the glass. The palate is lush and pure, dark berries and plum framed by fine-grained French oak, with velvety tannins and a long, spiced finish.

FOOD PAIRING

Duck, lamb, wild mushroom risotto

Color

Red

Blend %

100% Pinot Noir

Appellation

Marlborough

Alcohol

13.5%

Suggested Retail Price

$45

Reviews

94

James Suckling - January 1, 2025 "Strawberries, flint, caramel, minerals and terra-cotta character, as well as fresh tea. Medium-bodied, this has crunchy fruit, crushed flowers and a fine and polished finish. Delicate and delicious with some weight."

93+

Wine Advocate - June 5, 2025 "The 2022 Pinot Noir leads with black cherry and star anise, strawberry top and a hint of pomegranate molasses. The wine is light and chalky, with attractive clarity in the glass and brilliant length through the finish. There is a dusting of cocoa and licorice at the edges of the aromas. It's a beautiful wine, one that ages slowly and gracefully over the decades. The tannins here are grippy and yet pulverized in structure; they serve to cup and cradle the fruit, never intrude but forever guiding."

91

Vinous - July 29, 2025 "The 2022 Pinot Noir feels indulgent with rich flavors, creamy textures and good length. This is well balanced with layers of ripe fruit and well-integrated festive spices. Black and red cherry, plum and dark chocolate develop on the finish."

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Other Wines by this Producer

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Sauvignon Blanc

Dog Point’s Sauvignon Blanc takes a category of wine and completely transcends it, with an intensity, depth and energy that so obviously sets it apart from the first encounter. When they decided to make a pure stainless steel vinified Sauvignon Blanc, Dog Point pushed to the ultimate every process to produce top quality, distinctive wine. They hand-pick fruit at low yields, green harvest at times, and ferment partially with indigenous yeasts. This wine helped make Dog Point a key advocate of premium wine production in New Zealand, and for New Zealand across the world.

Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc

Section 94 is widely regarded as the most distinctive and greatest Sauvignon Blanc being made in New Zealand today. James Healy and Ivan Sutherland were among the first to begin fermenting their Sauvignon in barrel with wild yeasts, a technique that along with the old vines they use, leads to a full-bodied wine that is less fruit-forward, more exotic, and has immense textural complexity.

Chardonnay

Several influential voices in the wine industry believe that in time Chardonnay may prove New Zealand's single highest achievement. All three of the Dog Point wines fermented in barrel are small in production, but the Chardonnay is the smallest, and and times indeed the most dazzling.