Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2021

Accolades:
97/100 – James Suckling
96/100 – Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review
96/100 – Cameron Douglas MS
95/100 – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Lively and vibrant red fruits of wild strawberries and red cherries followed by rose hips, ground spices and a touch of citrus zest. Medium-bodied, finely grained velvety tannins with a delightful acid backbone. Zesty and layered wine with beautiful balance and complexity. It’s already enjoyable but will age gracefully.” – James Suckling

“Deep crimson. A firm, upright nose with blackberry, violet and minerality in a restrained but concentrated package. Not immediately exuberant but there is clearly a lot of innate power here. The palate is full-bodied, very structured from the start with both fruit and oak tannins giving texture and dimension to this impressively serious, mineral and very long wine. Very young currently, it needs a few years to relax into itself but will be fantastic in time as the floral and blackberry flavours unfurl.” – Stephen Wong MW

“Pristine, fresh, vibrant and youthful, aromas of Doris plums and dark cherry flesh, layers of red clay soil scents and a touch of iron add complexity and depth. The use of oak is judicious and well placed offering some spice and gentle smoky qualities. On the palate, taut textures from tannins and acid backbone deliver a firm palate squeeze, them as the wine begins to open out in glass, the flavours of red fruits and bramble, soft brown baking spices and lees complexities begin to unfold. A wine of energy and power, velvet tannins and saline lick on the finish. A wine for the cellar with best drinking likely from 2027 through 2037+.” – Cameron Douglas MS

“The 2021 Pinot Noir is vibrant on the nose and totally precise and focused. The acid spools right from the front of the palate and has a mobile, agile way about it. The season may have had its challenges, but the wine is effortless, natural and shapely. It’s great. The 40% whole bunch here sits well within the red fruit and creates a capacious mid-palate, without an impact of stalky flavor. Superb. A real pleasure to drink.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Tasting Note: A full fragrant nose of juniper, rose petal, and plum meld with spice notes of cardamon and sumac. The palate concentration is exceptional, a hallmark of a small yielding year on the Martinborough Terrace. Buoyed by bright acidity and spice fragrance this is a very compelling release with finely coating tannins that extend the full length of the palate. The 2021 is an exciting wine to cellar as time will allow the more beguiling aromatic side to reveal itself to the full.

Winemaking Notes: 40% whole bunch with the remainder destemmed, fermentation by indigenous yeasts. After pressing, complete malolactic ferment in oak. Harvest Analysis Brix 22.4-24.3 11 months total in French oak (30% new), then blended and held for further 8 months prior to bottling.

Certification: Organic

Alcohol: 14.0%

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Martinborough, New Zealand