Vineyards:
Crimson is a wine which was inspired by a love of New Zealand's native 'Christmas Trees' the rata and pohutukawa trees. Sales of this wine support Project Crimson, a charitable conservation trust which plants and protects these trees. The Pinot Noir grapes for Crimson are produced from 10-20 year old Martinborough vines in Lismore, Waiora and Walnut Ridge blocks.
Vinification:
The grapes were hand picked and 100% destemmed, keeping as much whole berry fruit as possible. Pre-fermentation maceration lasted between two and six days. The must was inoculated with indigenous yeasts and hand plunged during fermentation that lasted two to three weeks. The wine was racked into barrel, of which 20% was new oak, where it remained for a further nine months after malolactic fermentation until bottling in February.
Ata Rangi is owned and run by Clive Paton and his wife Phyll, together with Clive’s sister Alison and winemaker Helen Masters. Clive planted the bare, stony home paddock at the edge of Martinborough in 1980 and, in doing so, was one of a handful of people who pioneered grape growing in the area. Ata Rangi’s first vineyard covered less than five hectares of thin, well-drained alluvial soil.
They are now according to UK winewriter Tim Atkin, "widely regarded as New…
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Bob Campbell MW
(BC) :
94
Points (2018)
James Suckling
(JS) :
93
Points (2018)
Robert Parker
(RP) :
91
Points (2018)
Wine Enthusiast
(WE) :
91
Points (2018)
Decanter
(DCT) :
91
Points (2018)
Burghound
(BH) :
90
Points (2018)
Vinous (Antonio Galloni)
(VN) :
90
Points (2016)
Jancis Robinson
(JR) :
16.5
Points (2015)