2016 | Craggy Range | Sophia

The expressive bouquet is balanced by notes of blackberries, cassis and cocoa - accompanied by hints of wood. On the palate, this red wine is rich without being overpowering and has a body with sweet fruit and caramelized nuances. The fine tannins are perfectly woven into the dense texture.

Reviews:

• Bob Campbell: Plump, fleshy but structured wine, with vibrant acidity and tannins balancing fruit and alcohol sweetness. A weighty, textural wine with plum, subtle floral, liquorice, wood smoke and anise flavours.

• Farr Vintners: This deeply coloured wine is minty, plummy and chocolatey on the nose. The palate is chock full of juicy plums, which give a roundness and soften the chalky tannins. There is more acidity here than in previous vintages and that gives good lift and balance. Toasty, spicy notes marry with the black fruits on a long and lingering finish.

Producer Information

Craggy Range is a New Zealand wine producer based in the Hawke's Bay region of teh North Island. Founded in 1999 by businessman Terry Peabody and winemaker Steve Smith MW, it has quickly gone on to be one of New Zealand's more prestigious wine companies, producing a wide range of premium wines from various grape varieties. The company owns or operates vineyards throughout New Zealand, but its heart is in the renowned Gimblett Gravels region. The other holding is the Te Muna Road estate, further south in the Martinborough region which is planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Riesling with small amounts of Pinot Gris. Craggy Range also leases smaller plots in Hawke's Bay and Marlborough. Craggy Range produces a wide range of wines, led by the five wines of the Prestige Collection. Sophia, the flagship wine, is a Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, while The Quarry is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon. Le Sol is a Syrah, and Les Beaux Cailloux an elegant single-block Chardonnay. The fifth, Aroha, is a spicy, complex Pinot Noir from Martinborough. Two high-tech wineries are sited in the Hawke's Bay. 'Giants', at the foot of Te Mata Peak (aka The Sleeping Giant), serves as Craggy Range's cellar door and headquarters. There is another large facility in the Gimblett Gravels. The Sophia cuvée has its own fermentation room, with 8000 liter French oak vats and a barrel room.

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