Craggy Range Te Kahu, Gimblett Gravels Vineyard 2021

Deepest crimson red with a purple hue. Concentrated nose, with notes of cassis, black olive and dried tobacco leading the bouquet. The wine has a lovely energy amplifying the red fruits and liquorice characters framed by dark chocolate laced tannins delivering a classical structure—a perfect example of a Bordeaux style blend from the Gimblett Gravels, with an excellent future ahead.

Gimblett Gravels, a winegrowing district in Hawke’s Bay, is situated on the ancient Ngaruroro River bed, exposed for viticulture since its course change in 1867. The stony soil, with greywacke stones, silt, and sand, enhances vine ripening by absorbing and radiating heat. This structure allows rapid drainage, controlling vine growth with low fertility for moderate vigour. Precise management is crucial, offering the potential for rich, ripe red wines with a distinctive 'Gimblett Dust' character. Despite being warm by New Zealand standards, the area's low altitude and proximity to the sea create a temperate maritime climate, retaining fruit aromatics due to the lack of excessive heat.

Whole Bunch 0% Destemmed 100% Fermentation Vessel - Closed top stainless steel tanks Fermentation - Inoculated Barrel Type - Oak barriques New Barrel - 20% Maturation - 17 months Fining - Yes Filtration - Yes Bottled - Dec – 21