Dog Point Pinot Noir 2021

Reviews

Decanter: 96/100 (Tasted by: Emma Jenkins MW (at New Zealand Pinot Noir: Vintage report tasting, 03 Oct 2024) Part of New Zealand Pinot Noir: Vintage report and 40 new releases rated). An intense, inviting nose with lots of spicy liveliness and layers. Rich and quite bold in style but never heavy. Plenty of red and black fruits. Rounded, supple and mouthfilling, with lovely spice, dried herbs and sweet fruit. Fine, firm tannins drive the length; good acidity, too. An interesting, sophisticated wine, and while very attractive now, its concentration and balance suggest a satisfying result for cellaring. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2032.

Bob Campbell, MW (The Real Review): 95/100. Intense, appealing pinot noir with subtle floral aromas together with concentrated red berry, dark chocolate, liquorice, woodsmoke and spicy oak flavours. Powerful wine with obvious cellaring potential.

Cameron Douglas MS: 94/100.  Ripe, fruity, varietal and complex bouquet with aromas of red cherry and raspberry flesh, some red licorice and vanilla, layers of wood smoke and plum then a clay stone mineral quality. These ideas repeat and come alive on the palate with youthful polished tannins and acidity for contrast. Dry and delicious with salivating textures and flavours, fresh red fruits and barrel spice highlights and a lengthy finish with complexity and charm. Best drinking from 2023 through 2030.

Tasting Note

A bright perfumed, supple expression of Marlborough pinot noir from clay hill slopes. The fruit is supported by bright florals of rose and violets with crunchy red berry fruit and dried herb notes. The palate is succulent with alluring red cherry, brown spices and silky fine boned tannins. This wine has all the makings of a long lived Marlborough pinot noir.

Aromas and flavours:

Additional information

Type: Red wine

Grape varial: 100% Pinot Noir

Alcohol: 13.5% vol

Food match: matches perfectly with duck, red meats (particularly venison and lamb), and mushroom dishes.

Vineyards: Marlborough home vineyards, Settlement and Yarrum, Southern Valleays, Marlborough, New Zealand. Largely all on hill slopes with clay loams. Vines are 20 years old on average. Some plantings date back to 1983.

Winemaking: Hand harvested and hand sorted, prior to de-stemming (25% whole bunch included). The fruit is fermented in small stainless open-top fermenters without pumping. Fermentation is conducted by indigenous yeasts over a period of 2-3 weeks prior to pressing into French oak barrels (30% new) for 18 months.

Residual sugar: <1 g/l

Bottle size: 0.75l

Notice: contains sulfites

Cellaring potential: 2030+

Closure: Screwcap

Produced and bottled by: Dog Point Vineyards Ltd, PO Box 52, Renwick, Marlborough, New Zealand

Distributor: vinabonus GmbH, Simmedenweg 40, 34134 Kassel, Germany

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