Craggy Range is blazing a trail in the New Zealand wine industry, and these two new releases are an excellent opportunity to discover why.
The Pinot hails from Te Muna Road vineyard, seven kilometres from the township of Martinborough, and grown in ancient, stony soils. The fruit is handpicked from the higher terrace of the vineyard. Fermented under indigenous yeasts with using partial whole bunch (around 15%) in a combination of French oak cuves and open-top stainless steel tanks.
Mellow, silken-textured pinot noir with plum, cherry, floral, violet and subtle spicy oak flavours. A charming, seductive wine with power delivered with consummate subtlety. Dangerously drinkable.
95 points, The Real Review (March 2021)
This is a lovely pinot noir, fluid but firm, fruit-driven but inherently spicy and complex. It carries a polished veneer of oak but the tension and drama of the fruit is more than its match. I tasted this over two days; it was better on day two but it was more or less spot on from the moment it was opened. Power, spice, a prettiness, a persuasiveness. Very good territory, basically.
93+ points, The Wine Front (March 2021)
Attractive red-cherry, pot-pourri and rose aromas with gingerbread, too. The palate has a supple, juicy red-cherry core with a smooth-honed, long and focused finish. Upbeat.
93 points, JamesSuckling.com (February 2021)
Spicy and smoky style nose, cherry fruit still fresh and succulent. Savoury, toasty character on palate, juicy fruit, silky tannins.
Silver + 93 points, Decanter World Wine Awards 2021
Martinborough
Martinborough is located on the North Island of New Zealand and is the island’s driest area, due to the rain shadow created by the Tararua and Rimutaka Ranges. The district is prone to spring frosts, with wind machines employed throughout the area to protect young vines from frost damage. Martinborough’s climate is cool with some maritime influence and the region enjoys one of the longest growing seasons in New Zealand. There is significant diurnal variation, excellent for preserving aromatics and acidity and the naturally breezy conditions help to curb vine vigour, resulting in low yields of grapes with great intensity and flavor concentration. Over time, the river which runs through the region, has carved out cliffs and escarpments to expose stony sub-soils, helping to create the premium vineyard site of ‘Martinborough Terrace’ built over layers of alluvial river terraces. Martinborough has significant plantings of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling but is best known for producing outstanding Pinot Noir sought the world over.
