Dog Point’s 2020 Chardonnay is a superb example of the estate’s signature style: concentrated, struck-match complexity balanced by crystalline fruit purity. Sourced from mature, organically farmed vineyards in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys, it opens with aromas of white peach, lemon zest, hazelnut and flint. The cool 2020 vintage lends wonderful tension, allowing the wine’s natural richness to unfold with precision and focus. Subtle oak framing and beautifully integrated acidity give the wine depth while maintaining a vibrant, mouth-watering energy.

On the palate, the wine is layered and textural, offering a harmonious interplay of ripe stone fruit, citrus, toasted brioche and mineral drive. Fermentation with wild yeasts and extended lees ageing add savoury complexity, while the long, saline finish speaks clearly of Dog Point’s low-intervention philosophy. This is a benchmark New Zealand Chardonnay: refined, expressive and built to age gracefully over the next decade.

Chardonnay (100%)

Chardonnay is one of the most versatile and widely planted white grape varieties in the world, renowned for its adaptability to diverse climates and winemaking styles. Originating in Burgundy, where it reaches its most elegant and mineral expression, Chardonnay can range from crisp and steely to rich and opulent, depending on where and how it is made. Its relatively neutral character allows it to reflect both terroir and technique—whether aged in stainless steel for a lean, citrus-driven profile, or in oak barrels to develop notes of vanilla, toast, and creamy texture. Flavours often include apple, pear, lemon, peach, and tropical fruits, with cool-climate examples offering tension and minerality, while warmer regions yield fuller, rounder styles. From Chablis to Napa, Margaret River to Sicily, Chardonnay remains a benchmark for quality and diversity in white wine.

Marlborough