ATA RANGI CRIMSON PINOT NOIR 2019

Winery notes (2019 Vintage)
"Crimson is our selection of parcels from younger Pinot Noir vines from our various vineyards on the Martinborough Terrace. In their youth, vines tend to be more fruit expressive, gaining more complexity around 15-20 years.

This vintage has the intensity and structure that we love from Martinborough – complex notes of rose petal, blood orange, sandalwood, tamarind and toasted rice entice aromatically while the flavours of cranberry, cinnamon and bergamot tea align with the soft savoury notes of tobacco to taste. This structure makes for a beautifully food-friendly Pinot Noir.

The winemaking philosophy is the same as for our signature Pinot Noir: no enzymes or yeasts are added, providing a hands-off, traditional approach which we feel more truly expresses the site."

5 Stars & 94/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, July 2021 (2019 Vintage)
"Gorgeously styled and fragrant with dark cherry, olive, roasted nut and floral aromas with a hint of vanilla. The palate offers excellent fruit purity and velvety texture, combined with juicy fruit intensity backed by silky tannins, making it fabulously drinkable. At its best: now to 2029."

94/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, August 2021 (2019 Vintage)
"Ata Rangi’s second-label pinot noir made grapes grown on younger vines than their flagship wine. It is sporting a new label showing a stylised Pohutukawa flower. Seamless, stylish pinot noir with savoury, dried herb, spice, cherry, floral and violet flavours. Deliciously approachable now but should develop well, at least in the medium-term"

Reviews for the 2018 vintage below…

93/100 Cameron Douglas MS, October 2019 (2018 Vintage)
"Vibrant, almost exotic red fruited and varietal bouquet of Pinot Noir. Raspberry and plum, crushed dark cherries and velvet roses. Traces of brown baking spices with a mild toasty oak layer add complexity and depth. On the palate – tense, youthful, fresh and dry. Flavours reflect the nose alongside chalky firm tannins, medium+ acidity and a lengthy crunchy finish. I could drink this wine on its own, with food or cellar for another year. You decide. Best from 2020 through 2024+."

93/100 Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com, October 2019 (2018 Vintage)
"There’s so much to this wine. It is a pinot that really speaks of quality tannin, fresh and quite concentrated fruit flavours and a layered, succulent, fleshy and rich, dark-cherry finish. One of the best value wines on the planet, hands down!"

93/100 Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, November 2020 (2018 Vintage)
"Dark cherry, some red fruits, rosehip, spicy with a bit of a tamarind thing happening too. It’s juicy, a mix of spice and fruit colours, a pleasant sappy twang, black olive, lovely firm tannin that grips but doesn’t dominate, then a cool long finish where pleasant chicory bitterness and perfume mingle to excellent effect."

93/100 Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine, NZ Pinot Noir Tasting, April 2021 (2018 Vintage)
"2018 Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir, Martinborough has fresh red plum and cherry aromas with a light stemmy edge. The palate’s round, showing nice flesh and a light tannin grip. Paterson thought it, “A gently structural pinot noir with good varietal character. Subtle fine oak, attractive spice and pleasing length. Good mid-palate fruit surrounded by a gentle herbal frame. I enjoy the gently puckering nature of the tannins on the close."