Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2004
18.5 + Lemongreen, beautiful. A voluminous ripe sauvignon bouquet of ripest red capsicum, black passionfruit and some honeysuckle florals, though the subtlety of the latter is a bit hidden by soft fragrant oak aromas. In addition there are attractive baguette / breadcrust lees autolysis complexities on bouquet, surprisingly so considering the lack of time in which to develop them. Palate is a little more austere than the bouquet promises, the apparent ripeness retreating slightly to remind of other colours of capsicum, plus fresh acid. Body, balance, and length in mouth in mouth are excellent – serious sauvignon at a serious cropping rate. This is a terrific subtly-oak-influenced New Zealand sauvignon in the subtle Mt Nelson style, commercially dry, which should cellar well for 5 – 10 years, perhaps longer.
Geoff Kelly