My Wine of the Week

My Wine of this week will have to be Dog Point Pinot Noir 2012. Tasted on Tuesday in the beautiful setting of the China Club in Hong Kong, it was simply superb. 

With a perfect ruby colour, light red fruits (wild strawberry, forest fruits), perfume (light violet) and slight spiciness (white pepper), it offered the perfect example of New Zealand Pinot Noir at its best. The lively acidity was perfect to cut down the fat of the roasted duck and barbecued pork while the tannins were perfectly integrated and smooth. It provided silkiness and smoothness to the palate and the delicate red cherry flavours lingered for a long time in the mouth. 

The 2009 was equally superb with more freshness coming from a distinctive forest aroma on the nose: a hint of wood and mint reminded me of a walk under the trees, after the rain. The palate was rounder than the 2012 with more black fruits (blackberries) and hints of chocolate. Again an amazing finish lingering with delicate flavours and silkiness. 

Owned by two of the three original founders of Cloudy Bay (Ivan Sutherland and James Healy), Dog Point was set up in 2002. The winery only started in 2004 but from the beginning has used  the original vineyards of Cloudy Bay which were, and are still owned, by Ivan Sutherland. Dog Point now produces some of the best Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that are truly distinctive and capable to age. I have been lucky to taste 10 years of their vintages for the Pinot Noir and the Sauvignon Blanc (section 94) and they age beautifully, showing the character of the vintage and of the terroir. 

So you can be sure that that 2012 Pinot Noir will age beautifully for some time in your cellar... or like me, you can drink it now!