Craggy Range Aroha 2020

Region and Vineyards

The Te Muna Road Vineyard, located in Martinborough, is one of New Zealand’s most esteemed Pinot Noir regions. The vineyard is divided into two terraces, with the upper terrace featuring ancient alvi-fulvic soils ideal for growing Pinot Noir. This region is known for its cool climate, which provides a long ripening season, essential for producing Pinot Noir with great complexity, elegance, and aromatic intensity.

The 2020 vintage started with a wet spring but transitioned into a warm and dry ripening period, resulting in ideal conditions for producing high-quality Pinot Noir. The careful selection of parcels and attention to vineyard management ensured a low-yield harvest of intensely flavored fruit, with an average production level of 38 hl/ha.

Winemaking

Aroha 2020 is crafted using traditional techniques, with a focus on preserving the purity and elegance of the Pinot Noir grape. The grapes are 100% hand-harvested between 20-24 March, with 70% whole bunches and 30% destemmed fruit used during fermentation. The wine is fermented in a combination of open-top stainless steel tanks and French oak cuves, with fermentation driven by indigenous yeasts.

After fermentation, the wine is aged for 14 months in French oak barriques, with 34% new oak, providing structure and depth without overwhelming the delicate fruit character. The wine is fined, but not filtered, ensuring a natural expression of the vineyard.

Tasting Notes

• Color: A classic Burgundy red with soft crimson hues.
• Aroma: The nose reveals layers of wild berries, sweet brambly fruit, and porcini mushrooms, complemented by notes of forest floor, lavender, and Provençal floral tones.
• Palate: On the palate, the wine is elegant and refined, with silky tannins carrying flavors of high-tone berries wrapped in savory, earthy undertones. The velvety tannins provide a smooth texture and generous length, with oak subtly supporting the background.
• Finish: The finish is long, with lingering notes of berry fruit, earth, and a touch of oak spice, leaving a lasting impression.

Did You Know?

The name Aroha means "love" in Māori, symbolizing the deep connection and respect Craggy Range has for its vineyards and the winemaking process. The 2020 vintage is considered one of the best for this wine, benefiting from near-perfect ripening conditions and low yields that concentrated the flavors.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Duck confit with cherries: The savory richness of the duck pairs perfectly with the bright berry flavors and silky tannins of the Pinot Noir.
• Mushroom risotto: The earthy notes of the mushrooms complement the wine’s porcini and forest floor aromas.
• Herb-crusted lamb: The aromatic herbs enhance the floral notes of the wine, while the tender lamb matches its elegant tannins.
• Beetroot and goat cheese salad: The earthy sweetness of beetroot and the creamy texture of goat cheese are lifted by the wine’s acidity and berry-driven palate.

History of Craggy Range

Craggy Range was founded by Terry Peabody and his wife Mary Peabody, who had a vision to create a family-owned winery that would be passed down for generations. While seeking a location for their winery, they were drawn to the untapped potential of New Zealand’s wine regions, particularly Hawke’s Bay. Their goal was ambitious: to produce single-vineyard wines that would rival the great wine regions of the world.

Terry Peabody was introduced to the potential of New Zealand’s terroir through discussions with renowned viticulturalist Steve Smith MW, who helped identify the best sites for Craggy Range’s vineyards. Together, they carefully selected land in Gimblett Gravels in Hawke’s Bay and Te Muna Road in Martinborough. With a deep commitment to the land, the Peabody family chose to establish a 1,000-year trust, ensuring that the winery would stay within the family for generations and could never be sold.

Craggy Range immediately set itself apart by becoming the first New Zealand winery to focus solely on single-vineyard wines. Their pursuit of quality was evident from the start, with significant investments in vineyard management, winemaking technology, and sustainable practices. Under the leadership of Terry and Mary, and with the expertise of Steve Smith MW, Craggy Range quickly gained international recognition for producing wines that captured the essence of their unique terroirs.

Region and Vineyards

Craggy Range’s vineyards are located in some of New Zealand’s most prestigious wine regions, each chosen for its unique climate and soil characteristics that are perfectly suited to the varietals grown there.

Te Muna Road Vineyard – Martinborough

Located in Martinborough, the Te Muna Road Vineyard is renowned for its production of Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. This vineyard spans two distinct terraces:

• The upper terrace features ancient alvi-fulvic soils, which are ideal for growing Pinot Noir. These soils, combined with the cool, breezy climate of Martinborough, create wines of great complexity and elegance.
• The lower terrace is characterized by stony, alluvial soils, perfect for Sauvignon Blanc. These soils allow for excellent drainage, leading to crisp, mineral-driven wines that reflect the terroir.

Martinborough’s cool climate is a key factor in the vineyard’s success, providing long growing seasons that allow the grapes to develop intense flavors and aromatic complexity.

Gimblett Gravels Vineyard – Hawke’s Bay

The Gimblett Gravels vineyard is situated on an ancient riverbed in Hawke’s Bay, on the Ngaruroro River floodplain. This site is famous for its stony soils, composed of greywacke stones, which provide outstanding drainage and heat retention, encouraging the development of rich, ripe fruit with excellent structure.

The Gimblett Gravels region is particularly well-known for producing world-class Syrah and Bordeaux blends, including Craggy Range’s iconic wines like Le Sol and Sophia. The region’s warm days and cool nights create the perfect conditions for ripening Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, resulting in wines with intense flavors, fine tannins, and long aging potential.

Kidnappers Vineyard – Hawke’s Bay

In addition to Gimblett Gravels, Craggy Range also owns the Kidnappers Vineyard, located on the coast of Hawke’s Bay. This cooler, coastal site is ideal for producing Chardonnay with bright acidity and minerality. The maritime influence helps moderate the temperature, ensuring the slow ripening of the grapes, which enhances the elegance and precision of the wines produced from this vineyard.

The combination of diverse terroirs across these regions enables Craggy Range to produce a wide range of wines, each expressing the unique characteristics of their vineyard origins.

Wine Range

Craggy Range produces two main wine collections:

• Family Collection: These are single-vineyard wines that showcase the true expression of terroir. They include:

  • Sauvignon Blanc, Te Muna Road, Martinborough
  • Chardonnay, Kidnappers Vineyard, Hawke’s Bay
  • Pinot Noir, Te Muna Road, Martinborough
  • Syrah and Merlot, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay
  • Te Kahu, a Bordeaux-style blend, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay

• Prestige Collection: These are limited-edition wines produced only in the best vintages, using the finest plots within their vineyards. The Prestige Collection includes:

  • Les Beaux Cailloux (Chardonnay, Gimblett Gravels)
  • Aroha (Pinot Noir, Te Muna Road)
  • Le Sol (Syrah, Gimblett Gravels)
  • Sophia (Bordeaux Blend, Gimblett Gravels)
  • The Quarry (Bordeaux Blend, Gimblett Gravels)

Sustainability and Legacy

Craggy Range is deeply committed to sustainability. In 2020, they launched a biodiversity project aimed at planting over 100 hectares of native trees within their vineyards in Martinborough. This initiative enhances vineyard biodiversity, improves land quality, and contributes to the long-term sustainability of their estate. The winery’s goal is to have a net positive impact on the environment and the local community.

Additionally, Craggy Range is advancing in organic farming techniques and integrating sustainability across all aspects of their vineyard and winemaking practices. They believe that by fostering biodiversity and promoting organic practices, they can not only improve the health of their vineyards but also enhance the quality of their wines.

Did You Know?

Craggy Range is one of the few wineries in the world that operates under a 1,000-year trust, ensuring that the winery remains in the family for future generations and can never be sold. This long-term vision underscores their commitment to excellence, sustainability, and legacy.