2003 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir

Community Tasting Notes (14) Avg Score: 89.5 points

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  5/11/2023 - WindFlyer Likes this wine: 94 Points

  eleven-vintage Ata Rangi vertical (K&L Redwood City): dark garnet with a cloudy core and rusty edge. this wine looked every bit of its twenty years.
  initially it smelled like a musty library book… damp mushrooms gave way to clove and some dark cherry. when revisiting the wine nearly two hours later, red and black currants and hints of sage came forth as well.
  in mouth it was initially all tertiary flavours brightened by the acidity, the earthy mushroom, truffle and spice notes carrying thru a long finish that hinted of red berries. upon revisit it had bloomed beautifully with red fruit compote notes lending a sweet edge to autumnal earthiness of the wine.
  
  i don’t see this getting better or lasting significantly longer… but what a wonderful expression it is at the moment.
  
  [vintage decimated by frost at the outset and complicated by cold and windy spells during the growing season. a lot of hand-picking and sorting was needed]

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  11/30/2020 - NickNYC wrote: 95 Points

  In magnum. Incredible wine, that blew me and the guests away. The nose is absolutely spectacular, typical aged Pinot Noir, with very distinctive black truffle notes. First time ever I get these notes in a Pinot Noir. The palate is smooth, polished tannins, clean, elegant, medium body and long. Really impressed.

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  2/18/2012 - WineDoctors wrote: 89 Points

  brick in color, medium intensity, unfiltered, aromas of bramble berry with slight hint of black cherry, and a bit of cedar; medium acid, medium body, medium tannins, and medium finish! Little fruit on the palate which was unexpected based upon the producer (although it does have a bit of age on it) with more cedar and mushroom notes. Paired well with seared and rare ahi tuna.

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  11/16/2011 - Barrettko wrote: 88 Points

  Beautiful ruby red color, nice flavors, but the tannin never balanced out over the course of the evening. Less interesting when we finished the bottle than in the middle. No previous experience with NZ pinots, so can't compare.

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  8/6/2011 - HansO wrote: 92 Points

  Beautiful red translucent color, intense on the nose, red & blackberry smell, light white pepper, still lots of fruit, very smooth, beautiful soft tannines, long taste. Perfect now.

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View all 14 Community Tasting Notes

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