Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2022

98 POINTS - Wine Orbit
"Stunning and captivating, the wine shows dark berry, warm spice, porcini, and toasted almond characters with an elegant floral overtone. The palate is equally enticing with outstanding concentration and depth, combined with silky flow and beautifully infused fine tannins, making it wonderfully structured with finesse and sophistication. Gorgeously proportioned and harmonious with a sustained, graceful finish. At its best: 2027 to 2042."

The season started well with no real frost damage and good canopy growth. Warm weather in October and November resulted in a good solid flowering. With low bunch good flowering was opportune. January was dry and very warm. Veraison started well around the 24th of January but stalled with the rain and cool weather that hit early February and continued throughout the month. Earlier ripening clones such as clone 5 and the Dijon selections were more adversely affected than our stalwart Abel.

Hand picking was slow and meticulous to ensure only the best fruit made it across the sorting table, the addition of the new Pellenc Destemmer meant that the fruit that made it to fermenter was in mint condition.