Red New Zealand Craggy Range Aroha Pinot Noir
Red New Zealand Craggy Range Aroha Pinot Noir 2021 wine
Decant this wine for up to an hour before serving. Established in 1998 by wine enthusiasts Terry and Mary Peabody, Craggy Range has embraced a hands-on, locally-inspired approach to winemaking. Their quest for an untouched piece of land led them to Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s North Island, where they have gradually expanded their vineyards to include other exceptional terroirs in the country.
This particular wine is a Pinot Noir crafted from grapes grown in the nutrient-rich soils of Te Muna Road vineyard in Martinborough. It boasts a complex aroma of summer hedgerow fruits, mushrooms, and lavender, blending Burgundy elegance with Martinborough’s unique terroir. After fermentation, the wine was aged for 14 months in French oak barrels, adding subtle hints of oak.
The palate reveals elevated berry flavors of raspberry, cranberry, and sour cherry, along with earthy forest floor notes. This wine is rich and rewarding, ready to enjoy now but also promising further development with aging. For a perfect pairing, serve it with dishes like roast game birds, Portobello mushroom burgers, or salmon steaks.
Red New Zealand Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2020 wine
Craggy Range is a leading small winery in New Zealand that played a key role in developing the Gimblett Gravels region in Hawkes Bay. Previously, this region faced the threat of being mined by cement and gravel companies until local winemakers fought to have it designated for viticulture. This Syrah reflects the unique terroir of Gimblett Gravels, where a warm and dry microclimate and stony, well-draining soils lead to the production of intensely-flavored Syrah grapes with vibrant color and a notable peppery spice.
The vineyard utilized a heritage Syrah clone from the 1840s, and the winemaking process involves fermenting the grapes with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks before aging in French oak barrels for 17 months. The resulting wine is a robust yet elegant red with a deep purple hue and aromatic notes of violets, lavender, and maraschino cherries. Its palate offers a rich texture, full body, balanced tannins, and a long, peppery finish with undertones of graphite and leather.
This exceptional red wine pairs wonderfully with roasted lamb or squid ink linguine.
Red New Zealand Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2019 wine
Pour the wine into a decanter one hour before serving. Craggy Range is known as one of the top boutique wineries in New Zealand, taking its name from the majestic Te Mata mountain that overlooks its vineyards in Hawkes Bay. Established in 1997 by Australian businessman Terry Peabody and Master of Wine Steve Smith, the estate faced challenges as much of the Gimblett Gravels land was slated for mining by a cement company.
Thanks to the efforts of local wineries, the vineyards were preserved, leading to Craggy Range’s reputation for producing high-quality single vineyard wines from estate-grown grapes. The owner, Terry Peabody, has a particular fondness for the El Sol wine due to its vibrant character and its ability to age gracefully for many years. Named after the French term for “the soil,” El Sol is sourced from the stoniest part of the vineyard, planted with an ancient Syrah clone dating back to the 1840s.
This wine exhibits a deep purple color and offers intense aromas of wild berries, cassis, dark plum, as well as subtle hints of lavender, graphite, and woodsmoke. On the palate, it boasts a full body, structured tannins, and a long finish dominated by dark berries, winter spices, and complex earthy notes of leather and forest floor.
Red New Zealand Dog Point Pinot Noir 2022 wine
Pour the wine into a decanter an hour before serving. The Marlborough Wine Region stands out as the primary hub for wine production in New Zealand. The fragrant Dog Point Pinot Noir, a light red wine, hails from wineries in this region, showcasing the excellence of Pinot Noir grapes and the dedication of the winemakers.
The collaboration between James and Wendy Healy and Ivan and Margaret Sutherland has significantly impacted the quality and standards of wine crafting. The wine’s aroma features lively scents of red rose, lavender, subtle herbal hints, blueberry, and warm cinnamon with a deep creamy touch. Its taste profile offers a delightful blend of gentle tannins, ripe fruits, and a lingering earthy finish.
The wine’s delicate acidity enhances the rich, intense flavors, resulting in a well-balanced and intricate structure. This wine embodies the elegance typical of a Marlborough Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir grapes are meticulously handpicked and chilled overnight before being manually sorted.
A portion of the grapes is harvested with stems intact, while the majority undergo destemming. Following a 21-day fermentation process with yeast, the grapes are pressed and aged in French oak barrels for nearly eighteen months.