Editors notes
The highly sought-after Ata Rangi Pinot Noir is undoubtedly one of the great new world Pinots to rival top Burgundy with only limited stock available.
The nose is elegantly concentrated with a deep, dense core of well-ripened dark-red cherry and berry fruit seamlessly melded with subtle dark-red florals, dark herbs, spices and oak elements, unfolding black-berried fruits. The aromatics are exceptionally harmonious and integrated, and the nose is quite complete. Medium-full bodied, the palate features rich and succulently sweet flavours of dark-red cherry and berry fruits along with black fruits lifted by dark-red and violet florals and subtle notes of dark herbs. Suggestions of spice and oak emerge. The flavours are beautifully precise, detailed and harmoniously balanced, and the mouthfeel very supple and fine-textured with flowery tannin extraction. The acidity is integrated and provides vitality for the refined core and line. The wine flows seamlessly to a long and sustained, complete finish. This is a beautifully rich and multi layered and detailed Pinot Noir of precision and harmony, with succulently sweet fruit and refined structure, enabling accessibility, and showing completeness - Thoughts on this wine by Raymond Chan
Cellar for 5 -10 years.
Braised Pheasant with garlic and herb roasted mushrooms would work wonderfully with this wine.
Details
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Wine Type
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Variety
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Oak Type
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Earthy
- Herbal
- Red Fruits
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Palate
- Cedar
- Red Cherry
- Strawberry
Food Pairings
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Poultry
Critic Scores & reviews
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James Suckling
98"This has all the cherry and spice and perfume that defines this consistently stunning pinot noir, as well as a sense of immense freshness. The palate has deceptive lightness and tannins that are supple and caressing and that kick fresh and expansive out through the finish. Succulent and elegant. A great vintage for this wine. Drink now. Screw cap."
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Bob Campbell MW
98"Elegant, supple and very vibrant pinot noir, with seductively-layered floral, red rose, cherry, red fruits, dried herb and mixed spice flavours. Very long and linear wine that demonstrated real power delivered with great subtlety. A wonderfully pure pinot noir with a distinctive house/vineyard style and a proven ability to age graciously. Drink 2018 to 2030"
Other vintages
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Locations
New Zealand
The New Zealand wine industry is one of the younger wine regions in the world, whose popularity grew immensely when Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc hit the world wine scene, quite unique in style when compared to the typical French Sancerre.
Wine is successfully cultivated on both the North and South islands from a latitude of 36 degrees in the North to 45 degrees for the most southerly wine region in the world, the South Island's Central Otago. The majority of regions are located in free-draining alluvial valleys except for Waiheke Island and Kawarau Gorge in Central Otago and benefit from the moderating effect of the maritime climate as no vineyard is more than 80 miles from the ocean. With plentiful sunshine hours and cool evening sea breezes, the grapes thrive.
Sauvignon Blanc is the major white variety people will think of when you mention New Zealand Whites, however fantastic Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and less commonly Viognier, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Blanc. Pinot Noir is the most widely planted red variety in New Zealand although Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (Bordeaux Blends), Syrah are also grown and in even smaller amounts, Tempranillo and Montepulcianos can too be found. Sparkling wines of very high standards are also made in New Zealand.
The key wine regions in New Zealand include Auckland, Canterbury, Central Otago, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Nelson.
Martinborough
The wine region of Martinborough is located in South Wairarapa on the southern end of the north island, and in only 30 years or so has gone from a sleepy colonial town to a world-class wine village.
The region has picked up numerous international awards since the 1990’s with Pinot Noir picking up the lion’s share of the medals. Pinot Noir is undoubtedly the flagship wine of the region, with some incredible wines being produced.
The mineral-laden soils, combined with the cool climate provide the perfect backdrop for Pinot Noir, much as it has for centuries in Burgundy, France. Indeed the Pinot Noirs produced are very Burgundian in style, a compliment not adorned to many other wine regions worldwide.
The micro-climate of Martinborough is rather warm, with hills both to the east and west. Most all of the vineyards are located in thin strips around the northern and eastern sides of the town or on the Dry River to the south of Martinborough. All the vineyards follow dry riverbeds, which have the desired soil structure for viticulture.
Although Pinot Noir is the king of the reds, Shiraz is also cultivated and in the whites, Riesling, Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Gris are grown.
About the brand Ata Rangi
Meaning "dawn sky" or "new beginning" the name Ata Rangi is now synonymous with Pinot Noir of the highest quality. Located in the Martinborough region, at the Southern tip of the New Zealand's North Island, the winery was one of the first in the region with vines dating back to 1980.
Back in 2010 Ata Rangi was honoured by being named in the inaugural Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa (Grand Cru of New Zealand award) and regularly produces what is considered the pinnacle in New Zealand Pinot Noir in the flagship Ata Rangi Pinot Noir. This accolade along with 3 of the highly coveted Bouchard-Finlayson Trophies for Best Pinot Noir at the prestigious London International Wine and Spirit Competition ensures that any wine produced is quickly snapped up by eager restaurateurs, merchants and at cellar door.
Although the flagship Pinot garners much of the attention, Ata Rangi also produces an top quality second label Pinot Noir in the Crimson and also make fine Chardonnay and Riesling. With a relatively small production all the wines are made with the utmost care to retain a fine balance with elegant structure and supple textures that deliver very satisfying, more savoury, mouth-filling experiences than wines from most other producers.
They remain one of only five 5-star rated Pinot Noir producers in The Seventh Great New Zealand
Pinot Noir Classification, which is probably the most sophisticated classification of New Zealand Pinot Noir.
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