Craggy Range Pinot Noir 2018 Wine Review

Craggy Range Pinot Noir 2018

Martinborough, New Zealand

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 5

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Price: $27.95

Drink: 2019-2026

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Craggy Range

Agent: Select Wine Merchants Inc.

Natalie's Score: 92/100

Juicy, savoury and darn delicious! Aromas of black cherry. Pair with veal.

This Craggy Range Pinot Noir 2018 was reviewed on May 14, 2019 by Natalie MacLean

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Reviews and Ratings

L.J. Palmer WSET 3 rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

From New Zealand Pure Discovery Wine Fair: Medium to light ruby colour wine, dry, mouthwatering acidity, medium bodied with balanced tannin. Nose of pronounced intensity featuring forest floor notes with herbs like thyme, red cherry and a tangy note. Tastes were of red fruit, predominantly red cherry, with herbal notes and forest floor tang.

Brent Gushowaty rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Martinborough sits near the southern tip of the North Island of New Zealand just across the Cook Strait from the more widely known Marlborough wine region, located at the northern tip of the South Island. Martinborough accounts for just three percent of the total New Zealand wine production but is home to nine percent of its winemakers. As you might infer there are many more smaller acreage wineries in the Martinborough area vs. Marlborough. The yields are also generally much lower here than elsewhere in New Zealand. Though this doesn't guarantee quality, it does tend to favour it.

The wine was harvested at 23.8 BRIX with a yield of 42 hl/ha. The grapes were mostly de-stemmed and fermented in a combination of French oak and open top stainless steel tanks. It was then raised in French oak barriques, 7% of which were new.

In the glass it is pale with a light pomegranate/ruby rim. The nose displays an interesting range of sweet herb, loganberry, elderberry and other mid-red berries, as well as some fleshiness, earthiness and minerality. The palate follows through as on the nose, holding a bit of everything, savoury fruit, limestone derived mineral notes but also slightly spicy herbs. A little lean and tart it finishes all dry, with an earthy minerality as well as a certain richness associated with the presence of clay. Well balanced with some good length on the finish

B- to B~ 91

Craig Haynes - WSET3 FWS SWS IWS rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Produced by the award winning family owned Craggy Range winery, this 2016 pinot noir displays a delicious range of red fruits. Expect to find cedar and earthy notes, too. Medium bodied with soft tannins and a long finish.

Christian Marcoux rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Craggy Range Pinot Noir Martinborough Wellington 2016, reveals flavors of raspberry, red cherry, dried herbs, mushroom and cocoa. Soft tannins, this lovely Pino Noir shows class and food friendly qualities. Solid Pinot Noir. Enjoy. Tasted at New-Zealand Wine Pure Discovery, May 2019.

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Craggy Range Pinot Noir 2018 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 92/100