I’ve got a Dog Point bias. There’s no question about it. The Sutherland’s (one half of Dog Point) are lovely people; the winery accommodation is stunning; the wines are always high-quality, and I respect every part of the operation.As a result of this bias – perceived or otherwise – the Dog Point wines are always tasted blind in my house. Always. The only problem is that, blind or otherwise, the wines stick out like a sore thumb (particularly this Chardonnay and the Section 94 Sauv). That distinctive, ‘Dog Point yeast’ and solids driven nose, the full palate that retains acidity, the integrated nutty oak – all of it just sings Dog Point (to me at least).

And no exception with this 2011.

As ever the precision of the components shines through here – the Sao oak, the wild yeast richness, the ‘I’ve been to Burgundy and bought the t-shirt’ fullness. All of it smells like great wine. I think the palate is just a little abrupt this vintage (more acidity this year I’d wager), yet the big, cookies and figs fullness is seriously intense and very high quality.Never subtle, and definitely a Chardonnay lovers wines, yet for flavour complexity and length it shades just about any other Marlborough Chardonnay I can think of.

Bias or not, this is seriously good shit.

Drink: 2013-2020
Score: 18.5/20, 94/100
Would I buy it? In a heartbeat.