This 2015 may have some bottle age, but it ain’t just any old Marlborough Sav. From the Dog Point home vineyard and vines planted in 1992, fruit is cropped at low levels, whole bunch pressed and aged in old French oak for 18 months. The result? A powerful, textural, age worthy Sauvignon Blanc. Aromatics are lifted; white florals, lemon meringue and smokey gun flint. It’s layered and concentrated with persistent freshness. Wine writers the world over consider it one of our best SBs. And we’d agree.

The Sutherlands and the Healys of Dog Point were right there in the mix when the world started taking notice of New Zealand wine in the late ‘80’s. Having been integral in making Cloudy Bay (and therefore Marlborough Sauvignon) an explosive success, Ivan Donaldson and James Healy left to launch Dog Point in 2004. With some vines planted as early as the 1970’s, this southern valleys estate is now the largest certified organic vineyard in New Zealand. It’s bloody impressive, as are their serious expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.