A single vineyard wine made from Martinborough grapes, made by a Hawkes Bay based winery. At cellar door, this wine smelled a bit one dimensional and fruit bright, but the other half latched on to it and suggested we get another bottle for more leisurely consumption. I'm glad I listened!
A lightfooted nose of significant complexity, moving through an attractive spectrum of flavours. Bright red fruits (strawberry/cherry-like), stalk, earth, freshly baked things, a bit of vanilla, etc. There's a lot in there, and it coheres well. The palate is similarly dextrous, and of good intensity despite being of light to medium body. Entry is slippery and fresh, leading to a middle palate full of bright flavour and interest. A good dose of acidity keeps things lively and adds impact to the wine's flavour profile. I've sat with the wine all evening and it has reached a point of excellent balance between flavour components. Lots of bright fruit, but equally prominent minerality and herbal astringency, with subtle oak adding another dimension. Flavour extends well into the after palate, and the finish sings with very fine tannins and acidity.
What a lovely wine. It's both delicate and powerful, with a most attractive flavour profile.
Craggy Range
Price: $NZ50
Closure: Stelvin
Date tasted: December 2007
A lightfooted nose of significant complexity, moving through an attractive spectrum of flavours. Bright red fruits (strawberry/cherry-like), stalk, earth, freshly baked things, a bit of vanilla, etc. There's a lot in there, and it coheres well. The palate is similarly dextrous, and of good intensity despite being of light to medium body. Entry is slippery and fresh, leading to a middle palate full of bright flavour and interest. A good dose of acidity keeps things lively and adds impact to the wine's flavour profile. I've sat with the wine all evening and it has reached a point of excellent balance between flavour components. Lots of bright fruit, but equally prominent minerality and herbal astringency, with subtle oak adding another dimension. Flavour extends well into the after palate, and the finish sings with very fine tannins and acidity.
What a lovely wine. It's both delicate and powerful, with a most attractive flavour profile.
Craggy Range
Price: $NZ50
Closure: Stelvin
Date tasted: December 2007
Julian,
Is this the "Te Muna Road"? I have a bottle of the 04 at home and tried the 05 earlier in the year. Excellent wine, quite structured and I thought a keeper. What was the alcohol content?
Hey Edward,
Yep, it was the Te Muna Road wine, alcohol level of 13.8%. I checked out your tasting note, and it seems the 2006 might be a slightly lighter wine in style. The fellow at cellar door said there was a fair amount of "young fruit" in there, in an effort to create a more accessible, perfumed wine. Whatever they did with this, it worked. I wouldn't hesitate to drink the 2006 now.
Happy New Year!