Ata Rangi, Martinborough Pinot Noir

Wine Type: Red

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Country: New Zealand

Region: Martinborough

Organic: Practising Organic (certified 2021)

Vegan: Yes

ABV: 14%

Tasting Notes: Notes of ripe, dark berry fruits, star anise, crushed red rose and violets on the nose. The palate opens smoothly into full flavours of rose hip and dark plums with fine, layered tannins and seamless minerality that carries the wine to a long, elegant finish. Ata Rangi, meaning ‘dawn sky, new beginning’ in Te Reo Māori, is widely regarded to be among New Zealand’s finest, and most sought after, Pinot Noir producers.

Winemaking: 40% of the fruit was whole bunch pressed, with the remainder destemmed. Fruit from the different clones and vineyards were kept separate during fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Fermentation peaked at 31°C and continued for up to 23 days until pressing. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel and spent 11 months in low-toast French oak barriques, of which 35% were new. The wine was blended and held in stainless steel tanks for a further six months before bottling.