The Craggy Range 2010 Pinot Noir is a single vineyard effort. All of the fruit for this wine is from the Te Muna Road Vineyard which is located in the Martinborough region of New Zealand. The fruit for this wine (100% Pinot Noir) was hand harvested. It was fermented in open top stainless steel tanks and inoculated with native yeasts. Oak aging was accomplished over 9 months in small barrels; 31% of them were new. This wine is available in select countries around the world and it has a suggested retail price of $45.99.
This Pinot Noir is a tad reticent when you first open it. About 30 minutes of air in the decanter really does the trick allowing this wine to come into its own. Aromas of mushroom, cherry and strawberry are all present. The palate is intricately layered and loaded with oodles of appealing flavors; wild strawberry, bing and black cherry, cardamom and coriander are all present. Earth, sour cherry, rhubarb, white pepper and hints of cola are on display throughout the long and persistent finish.
New Zealand first made its mark by showing the world what it can do with Sauvignon Blanc. Of late we’ve also been lucky to be seeing more and more Pinot Noir’s from New Zealand on our shelves. This single vineyard selection from Craggy Range is an exceptionally nice example of the varietal. It’s delicious now with a touch of air and will improve in the bottle over the next 4-7 years. If you like Pinot’s that are pure and loaded with expressive character, the Te Muna Road is one you should aim to try.