February 11, 2024 - New Zealand Trip; 2/10/2024-2/24/2024: Light primary ruby, certainly younger looking than the Valli. Some fennel and menthol aromas but not as aggressively stemmy as the prior wine. Medium weight, light wood underneath, excellent sense of roundness and harmony. Ripe dark red and black fruit, anise, uplifting citrus peel, moderate tannins, and a serious soil-inflected finish. Outstanding wine with the balance to age well for another decade, I’d imagine.
December 14, 2023 - Dark leafy perfume, blue and boysenberries, lifted sousbois, round perfumey notes and wood spice. On palate, chewy, still tight, savoury leather, ashy bitter, bright acidity, clunky and a weird streak of disjointed bitter cherries. Nothing like the nose promised. Yes, concentration and maybe power, but awkward.
Very odd, the previous bottle I 7 years ago wasn't any better. Not sure about this producer...
(note: curious plenty tasting notes below focusing on tannins... in a pinot! that should set off some flags...)
November 3, 2023 - In a very good spot, tannins resolved, cherry and spice with some avouriness ride the tongue. A lovely wine.
October 30, 2023 - tasted over three days...
lovely cherry flavors with spices, saline notes, cellulose, coffee and truffles... good length and in perfect balance... probably a wine in its perfect drinking window.
October 7, 2023 - Lauren liked more than me. Still very good. forrest floor. Sour cherries
September 15, 2023 - Really drinking well but after 3 hours decant. acid dropped and came into balance. Somewhere between red and dark fruit.
August 25, 2023 - Maybe pinot of the night with all blind pinot tasting. Over two oregon a burgundy grand cru and sea smoke. Nice fruit, resolved tannins and nice finish. No one guessed New zealand.
July 7, 2023 - Drinking really well and very delicious. This should give many more years of drinking pleasure.
May 11, 2023 - eleven-vintage Ata Rangi vertical (K&L Redwood City): medium ruby colour. the nose starts a bit earthy, with herbal and crushed flower aromas, and is gradually augmented by blood orange, red and dark cherry, and spice whiffs. silky and elegant in the mouth, delightful layers of dark fruit unfurl accented by spices at turn savoury, at turn sweet. tea and mineral notes add depth while a lovely acidic frame keeps everything in tension. very good persistence.
this is likely at peak and should provide quite a few years of drinking pleasure as secondary flavours continue to develop.
30% whole cluster, 35% new oak for eleven months
[a somewhat warmer year, but with a cool middle period that slowed ripening. cool but dry weather returned toward nearing harvest time, lengthening the hang time]
April 5, 2023 - Liked it very much - but be careful when pairing to food - this is a delicate and fine wine - so nothing to spicy!