Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2020

Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2020

 

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Craggy Range
Le Sol Syrah 2020
  • Vintage : 2020
  • Country : New Zealand
  • Region : Hawkes Bay
  • Subregion :
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Rich and Spicy
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 14,1°
  • Grappes : 100% Syrah

The Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2020 is a remarkable expression of New Zealand Syrah, hailing from the famed Gimblett Gravels in Hawke’s Bay. This wine perfectly balances intense fruit purity with savory, complex undertones, making it one of Craggy Range’s most captivating releases.

Experts Score Vintage
BC Bob Campbell MW 98 2020
RP Robert Parker 96 2020
DCT Decanter 95 2020
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 95 2020
JS James Suckling 95 2020
WE Wine Enthusiast 94 2020
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

The Gimblett Gravels vineyard in Hawke’s Bay is a renowned area for producing world-class Syrah, benefiting from its unique stony soils and warm climate. The vineyard lies on the ancient riverbed of the Ngaruroro River, where the gravelly soils retain heat and allow for excellent drainage, creating ideal conditions for ripening Syrah. These soils, combined with the warm, dry conditions experienced from Christmas onwards in the 2020 vintage, resulted in exceptional fruit quality for this vintage.

The Gimblett Gravels terroir imparts both richness and minerality to the wine, enhancing its structure and depth, while allowing the ripe, concentrated fruit flavors to shine through.

Winemaking

The Le Sol 2020 was made using 56% whole bunch fermentation and 44% destemmed fruit, with the fermentation carried out in French and Austrian barriques and puncheons. Indigenous yeasts were used to maintain the purity of the vineyard’s expression, with the wine maturing for 17 months in French oak barriques, of which 38% were new oak. This careful oak integration enhances the wine's complexity and structure without overshadowing the fruit.

The wine underwent no fining, with only a coarse filtration applied before bottling in December 2021. With a production level of 34 hl/ha, this Syrah is a true representation of precision winemaking, crafted to last and evolve over time.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Deep, dark garnet with a rich burgundy hue.
  • Aroma: An inviting array of ripe red and blue fruits, including boysenberry and blueberry, intertwined with savory notes of black pepper, graphite, and hints of earthiness.
  • Palate: On the palate, the wine is opulent and seamless, with voluptuous fruit that fills the mouth, balanced by exceptionally fine graphite tannins. The layers of ripe fruit are met by a complex, savory undertone that gives the wine remarkable persistence.
  • Finish: The finish is long and elegant, with lingering notes of dark berries, spices, and a touch of mineral complexity, leaving a memorable impression.

Did You Know?

Le Sol, which means “the soil” in French, reflects the importance of the Gimblett Gravels vineyard's terroir in shaping the character of this wine. The 2020 vintage was considered exceptional due to the warm and dry conditions from Christmas onwards, contributing to the wine's intense concentration and depth.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Grilled lamb with rosemary and thyme: The savory richness of lamb pairs beautifully with the wine’s bold fruit and peppery notes.
  • Beef fillet with black peppercorn sauce: The wine’s fine tannins and dark fruit flavors complement the tender beef and spice of the sauce.
  • Roasted duck breast with cherry glaze: The dark berry fruit and smooth texture of the wine enhance the richness of the duck and the sweetness of the glaze.
  • Aged gouda: The wine’s structure and savory undertones are a perfect match for the intense, nutty flavors of aged gouda.

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.

Bob Campbell MW (BC) : 98 Points (2020)
Haunting, complex syrah, with layers of flavours that include violet, floral, blackcurrant, dark cherry, black pepper and nutty oak flavours. Approachable now but with obvious cellaring potential. An intense, powerful wine with a lingering finish. Elegance on a grand scale

Robert Parker (RP) : 96 Points (2020)
The 2020 Le Sol is open and attractive on the nose, with layers of blackberry, raspberry, hints of licorice and clove, a whiff of orange peel, black tea and pencil shavings. In the mouth, the wine is silky and full; it expands without being heavy. The flavors cascade and tumble over each other as they reach for the long and elongated finish. It's an incredibly classy, structural, detailed wine of poise and presence. Blackberry and blueberry are distinctly etched into the aftertaste. We know these wines age with grace and eloquence, but it is also wonderful on release. It is worth waiting for, if you are of the patient persuasion. If not, go forth; you won't be disappointed. It fermented with 60% whole bunch and spent 30 to 40 days on the skins (depending on the fermenting vat). This assists with texture. Overextraction is not a problem given the low alcohols. It matured in French puncheons and larger format (Stockinger 2,400 liters). 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Decanter (DCT) : 95 Points (2020)
One of two Craggy Range wines to join the Place de Bordeaux this year alongside the Pinot Noir-based Aroha. Meaty and wild, a sense of roasted meat, smoky and deliberate with a balsamic element too. Bay leaf, cooking herbs and some graphite touches - lots of expression. A full and bold style, but so juicy and succulent, really sucks the cheeks in, makes the mouth water with strawberry, red cherry, plum and raspberry fruit. It's smooth and penetrating but it has such a lovely crushed velvet texture, slightly chalky but full of life and vigour. I like this expression, feels vibrant but also with quite a lot of tension at this point. Nice detail on show in the smoke and florality but all very soft letting the vibrancy show through at this point.

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 95 Points (2020)
The 2020 Syrah Le Sol is bloody good. It offers the drinker an appetizing raspberry-fruited opening. It's a succulent and suave initially, but on the finish it opens a new chapter, showing the tension and sinew of whole clusters fermentation (40%), driving the wine forward with persistence and energy. While ripe and having the right amount of puppy fat to get your teeth into, this wine also shows freshness, cool climate spice and lift. The tannins are abundant yet resolved.

James Suckling (JS) : 95 Points (2020)
Bright and glossy with subtle and elegant spices, with more red and blue fruit than black. Diffusive and chalky tannins dwell upon the red cherries and plums on the palate, with white pepper and flowers in the streamlined, linear finish. Quite engaging now, but can hold, too.

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 94 Points (2020)
A deep purple hue, this opens with heady, savory herb and pepper aromas, quickly succeeded by deliciously succulent dark berry preserves, florals and a bit of vanillin oak. The palate is almost surprisingly lithe and sculpted, even austere at first pour. The distinctive sandpaper tannins give quite a grip. But those juicy, concentrated berry fruit notes persist.

Craggy Range Aroha 2020
Craggy Range Aroha 2020
Craggy Range
Aroha 2020
RP
94
DCT
95
VN
95
The Craggy Range Aroha 2020 is an elegant single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Te Muna Road, Martinborough, expressing both richness and finesse, with layers of fruit and savory complexity.
107,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
107,00 €
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