Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Section 94 is Dog Point's signature wine. James Healy, former oenologist at the famous Cloudy Bay estate, had the idea of ​​fermenting a Sauvignon Blanc in barrels. The name Section 94 refers to a unique plot of old vines and soils perfect for the expression of Sauvignon. This organic parcel was planted in 1992. The vineyard is managed to reduce yields, and as is the case with all Dog Point wines, the fruit is hand-picked (only 5% of the Sauvignon Blanc from New Zeeland is hand-picked). Fermentation with native yeasts and aging take place in old French oak barrels for a period of 18 months . There is minimal filtration before bottling. In this wine we detect exotic smoky and spicy flavors mingling with floral and ripe citrus notes. Very complex, notes of lemon , grapefruit , peach, toasted almond , apricot , passion fruit , biscuit, flint , vanilla and honey intermingle on the palate. Fresh and lively, the wine has great energy and a slightly creamy texture. The finish is persistent, with salty, toasted and citrus notes. A gourmet Sauvignon Blanc that can improve for more than 10 years in the cellar.

Introduced in 1819, vine growing was greatly developed by Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, a French Marist missionary. Sent to Oceania in 1837, he settled there from January 1838 onwards to develop New Zealand's vineyards. The first quality vineyards were established in the Hawke's Bay region in the 19th and early 20th centuries. After setbacks caused first by phylloxera and then by the First World War, the vineyards began to expand again during the Second World War, when their area doubled. Today, New Zealand has 10 main wine regions spread across the North and South Islands, the largest of which is Marlborough. Most of New Zealand's wine regions have a maritime climate. The country's long, narrow shape means that vineyards are never more than 120 km from the coast, and most are much closer than that (with the exception of the semi-continental Central Otago region). A spine of mountains running down the centre of the country shields most of the main wine regions from the strong westerly winds off the Tasman Sea known as the "Roaring Forties". Because of these winds, there are few wine regions on New Zealand's west coast. The quality and reputation of New Zealand wines are well established. Indeed, the country produces some of the best and most renowned Sauvignon Blanc in the world. And it is no coincidence that New Zealand has made Sauvignon Blanc its emblem, just like its sheep, its kiwis and its legendary haka!