Ata Rangi McCrone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Vineyards:

Visionary grape-growers Don and Carole McCrone own a four hectare pinot noir vineyard in Yamhill, Oregon. Ata Rangi owners Clive and Phyll Paton first met them at the International Pinot Celebration in Oregon in 1996. Don and Carole confided that they'd dreamt of replicating the single vineyard concept in the southern hemisphere. With the McCrones quickly becoming firm friends of the Ata Rangi family - and the whole team's enthusiasm for the project - Don and Carole found and eventually purchased an ideal four hectare block on the stony, free-draining Martinborough Terrace, just across the road from Ata Rangi to the east of the home block.

A compact seam of clay, 800mm deep, gives this vineyard's soils a unique water-holding ability and cooling effect on the roots. In 2001 Clive chose what he believed to be the most suitable clones for premium pinot noir to plant on this site; Ata Rangi Abel clone, naturally, plus Dijon selections (115 and 777) and Clone 5, with optimal trellising and recommended vine spacings for low yields and quality.
 

Vinification:

Hand-picked fruit underwent four to six days pre-fermentation maceration, 30% of which was whole bunch. Fermentation peaked at 32°C and continued for up to 21 days until pressing. The wine underwent malolacic fermentation in barrel and spent 11 months in French oak barriques, of which 20% was new.

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 Zealand’s top Pinot Noir producer".

Ata Rangi was recently given the title of "Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa" which translates from Maori as “Great Growth of New Zealand” or "Grand Cru" at the International Pinot Noir 2010 Conference. In presenting this inaugural award, Alastair Maling, MW and Chairman of Pinot Noir 2010, said: “The Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa award recognizes those who have taken time and shown skill and commitment in evolving and developing New Zealand Pinot Noir.

Ata Rangi is widely considered to be a "Premier Producer of Pinot Noir"; the top echelon and an inspiration to the rest of the industry. This award is a uniquely New Zealand one, combining terroir with winemaking philosophy and consistent quality. It can only be achieved with vine age, proven wine quality, authenticity and undoubted global recognition.