2023 Dog Point Chardonnay

96 POINTS

Shanteh Wale - Halliday Wine Companion

Hand picked from the Home vineyard, with vines dating back to 1984. Whole-bunch pressed and matured in French oak, 10% new, for 18 months. A tight wire of Buddha’s hand citrus, lemon gum oil and yellow peach fuzz leads the nose, followed by a flicker of toasted coconut and creamy oak dust. Quince and loquat notes weave through the profile. On the palate, it is total seduction, with acidity nestled into every crevice and undulating waves of citrus supported by orchard fruit. There’s a lacy, finely woven skin grip and a laser-like line of fruit that carries on and on. There is so much to unpack, yet you’ll find your glass empty far too quickly. This vintage is holding its shape and fruit freshness incredibly well.

96 POINTS

Jeni Port - Winepilot

The Mendoza clone of Chardonnay is a dominant force in the New Zealand wine scene: highly individual, full of flavour and ever ready with a saline, sea spray quality that gets the lips smacking. Dog Point does it better than many, capturing those qualities beautifully. Light gold hues. Flint, struck match, peach, nectarine, melon, citrus and citrus blossom aromas. A full, rich expression with French oak (10% new) playing an influence with its smoky toastiness, nougat nutty notes, and a second malolactic fermentation allowing the textural warmth of the wine to shine. A tightly coiled palate brings stone fruits, citrus, cardamom, bergamot and the kind of grippy tartness you get from sucking on grapefruit pith. All up, it’s one complex young Chardonnay with a long life ahead.

96 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2023 Chardonnay is incredibly tightly coiled and mineral on the nose, with white flowers, crushed shells, wet chalk and white pepper. This is overwhelming "white" in character, and I love it. The saline, mineral aspect of it is highly attractive to me, and as it unfolds like an origami paper crane through the finish, it shows precision and finesse in equal measure. While 2022 may have been a challenging vintage in the vineyard, they saw none of that it in the 2023 season. This is sapid and penetrating in its quiet way. Wow. Sealed under screw cap.

95 POINTS

James Suckling

A precise, driven and vibrant chardonnay with aromas of lemons, sweet spices, flint and brioche. Medium-bodied with bright acidity. So focused, with plenty of drive and patina on the palate. Succulent and tactile, with a long, bright finish. Good value. From organically grown grapes.

95 POINTS

Christina Pickard - Wine Enthusiast

This renowned producer is known for powerful, reductive white wine styles, and the '23 Chardy is no exception. Sure, there's prominent flinty, matchstick characters from first sniff, but they quickly mingle with roast nut, ground ginger and somewhat brighter citrus and mango rind. Combined, it's a layered, intriguing start. The acidity lifts and sculpts the palate, countering the textural richness and viscosity, and lending tang to the nutty, flinty finish. Still young (but absolutely drinkable now), it should evoke with flare over the next decade or more.

90 POINTS

Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous

Savoury and flinty, Dog Point's 2023 Chardonnay is a young wine that needs time in bottle. It is currently very tight and firm with nervy acidity. The citrus-like line pervades its light-bodied frame, which derives additional weight and flavour complexity from time on lees in barrel. Toasted hazelnuts, croissants and struck match currently dominate and under screw cap, this will take time to mellow out.