Craggy Range Aroha Pinot Noir 2023

Stephen Wong MW writes "Light, clear ruby. Beguilingly sweet aromas of honeyed toast, vanilla oak and anise-spiced raspberry coulis with wild strawberry notes adding some herbal freshness. Both reticent and charming at the same time, there is quite noticeable oak and grainy, coffee-ish tannins competing with the pure, pretty and delicate fruit profile, resulting in some youthful disjointedness which will need to resolve in bottle. Yet, despite the structure and wood, this possesses an airy, ethereal quality and underlying laciness which will ultimately emerge victorious once everything integrates. Give it another year to settle and watch this perfumed, lighter-weight pinot noir blossom like a night orchid over the coming decade. There’s something just a touch fragile about this which gives pause, but the pedigree and innate depth is clearly on display. Perhaps not for the very long term but this is an intriguing and fascinating wine nonetheless."

Cameron Douglas MS writes "A poised yet elegant bouquet, closed for the first 10 minutes then slowly the scents of place begin to show with a red clay quality then stone followed by wood smoke and dark berries, violet and rose then baking spice. Finally the scents of synergy begin to show with new complexities and a frame for the fruit. A dry wine on the palate, youthfully taut and poised, firm tannins and a backbone of acidity. Fruit and floral flavours sink into the textures and soil. A wine that needs cellar time with best drinking from 2029 through 2035+."

The winery writes "Bright burgundy in colour, with a soft crimson hue. The perfume is lifted and pure—a cool-season bouquet of dried cherry, lavender and hints of wild thyme. The palate shows a fine-boned structure, with red fruits taking a more restrained and precise form. It is a poised and elegant Aroha release, showing subtle depth and graceful approachability in its youth."