Tuesday 5 February 2013

A Trio From Craggy Range


I have over a couple of days tasted these three bottles from Craggy Range. I have liked this producer from the first times I tasted some bottles, and I´m especially fond of their prestige collection, with wines like Le Sol, Aroha, Sophia and Les Beaux Cailloux, the latter tasted below.

2011 Te Muna Road Sauvignon Blanc, Craggy Range
A gorgeous, upfront, in your face nose with notes of gooseberries, white currants, freshly cut grass, wet rock, lavender and black currant leaves. Salivating, fresh and full of vigour.
The taste is pure, young and racy with note of white currants, pear ice cream, grass and some flinty notes. A medium, long, dry finish. Fresh and fine. A tasty wine for the money. More info here.
It worked wonders with a seafood bisque with langoustines, scallops and crab.
88p   (tasted 2013/01)



2010 Gimblett Gravels Vineyard Chardonnay, Craggy Range
A young, creamy nose with notes of grey pears, dried peach, gravel and a touch of cap gun smoke. Nice enough but it lacks a bit of zest.
The taste is young, tight and pure with notes of green apples, pears, butter cookies and some passion fruit notes. A medium long, fresh finish. This is fine but again, lacks something to spark things up. Maybe time will better it. More info here.
82p   (tasted 2013/01)


2007 Le Beaux Cailloux, Craggy Range
Craggy Range´s prestige Chardonnay with some age - this should be interesting. And it is! The nose soars from the glass with deep, intense notes of sweet William pears, lemon cream, almond paste, cold butter, some bonfire scents and a lovely perfumed note. Very, very fine. The fruit is creamy and rich. Gorgeous!
The taste is fine, elegant and with lots of drive. There are stunning notes of sweet lemons, peach, butter cookies, a touch of vanilla pod and a bonfire in the distance. The acidity creeps up in the finish and it ends dry and beautiful. This is a stunning bottle of Chardonnay! More info here.
This beauty shined with a herb and garlic filled chicken with a spicy tomato sauce and oven root vegetables.
93p   (tasted 2013/01)



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