Community Tasting Notes 23

• Goldstone Likes this wine: 88 points

  December 27, 2022 - Long decant of 2 bottles, one of which was double-decanted overnight. Pronounced deep, opaque red/purple colour. Nose of mulberry fruit, espresso grounds, oak and schist minerals. Palate is similar and quite tannic in structure as the Malbec counterpoints the greater proportion of Merlot. Is almost chewy in mouthfeel. Moderate length but warming and enjoyable. Is much better and more accessible than the Shiraz-based wines, including the ‘Sophia’. 88-89.

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• Goldstone Likes this wine: 90 points

  December 10, 2022 - My first three from a case bought on release. Needs an overnight double-decant to show its best. Still very young-looking deep semi-opaque purple-red colour. Nose has a lovely soft Merlot-driven, plummy and mulberry-fruited character that is very inviting. The palate shows all the same characteristics but with more sharpness of focus from the Malbec but in a mellow way, which I realise doesn't make too much sense on the face of it. On the finish, this is like cuddling up on your favourite sofa with all your favourite cushions. Superb QPR and a really pleasant suprise compared to the same release of the Shiraz-driven 'Sophia', which has been a consistent disappointment.

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• John McCabe wrote: 92 points

  August 22, 2014 - Better than the last one I had; surprisingly sweet, nice weight and complexity. Drinking perfectly now, but will keep for a few more years.

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• JohnSh wrote: 91 points

  February 9, 2014 - Dark ruby and purple in colour. A moderate nose of mainly blackfruits and cedar. There's a bit more going on in the rich, textured, medium-full bodied palate, with blackberries, tar, dark chocolate, herbs, pomegranate and raspberries. There's nice acidity and tannins still, which gives the wine a lift. A little anonymous and modern, perhaps, but still, a well made, tasty Bordeaux blend that still has several years ahead of it.

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• John McCabe wrote: 91 points

  October 1, 2013 - Rich and fleshy wine - this has improved since the last time I tried it. You can tell this is a blend - so many things going on. The Malbec and Shiraz really come through. Pretty nice stuff.

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Pro Reviews 2

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2007
• Type Red
• Producer Craggy Range
• Varietal Red Blend
• Designation Te Kahu
• Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Vineyard
• Country New Zealand
• Region North Island
• SubRegion Hawke's Bay
• Appellation Gimblett Gravels

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 147 (45%)
• Consumed 179 (55%)

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