Craggy Range Sophia Gimblett Gravels 2019 750 ML

Comforting aromas of mocha, licorice, red and black berries and baking spice are backed by a subtle but present lick of sweet, toasty oak. The lifted acidity and fine, powdery tannins make for a powerful if slightly austere palate. Producer Information Craggy Range is a New Zealand wine producer based in the Hawke's Bay region of teh North Island. Founded in 1999 by businessman Terry Peabody and winemaker Steve Smith MW, it has quickly gone on to be one of New Zealand's more prestigious wine companies, producing a wide range of premium wines from various grape varieties. The company owns or operates vineyards throughout New Zealand, but its heart is in the renowned Gimblett Gravels region. The other holding is the Te Muna Road estate, further south in the Martinborough region which is planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Riesling with small amounts of Pinot Gris. Craggy Range also leases smaller plots in Hawke's Bay and Marlborough. Craggy Range produces a wide range of wines, led by the five wines of the Prestige Collection. Sophia, the flagship wine, is a Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, while The Quarry is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon. Le Sol is a Syrah, and Les Beaux Cailloux an elegant single-block Chardonnay. The fifth, Aroha, is a spicy, complex Pinot Noir from Martinborough. Two high-tech wineries are sited in the Hawke's Bay. 'Giants', at the foot of Te Mata Peak (aka The Sleeping Giant), serves as Craggy Range's cellar door and headquarters. There is another large facility in the Gimblett Gravels. The Sophia cuvée has its own fermentation room, with 8000 liter French oak vats and a barrel room.