Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir 2020

Reviews

Cameron Douglas MS: 94/100 (excellent). There’s no mistaking the purity of fruit at the center of the bouquet - red cherries and ripe sweet plum, some raspberry and baked strawberry suggestions. Oak layers in some complexity and spice and the varietal signature is enhanced by a fine layer of mineral silty soil scents. Taut and youthful on the palate with a core of red berry fruit flavours, plums and tart strawberry. Tannins and acidity accentuate the youthful mouthfeel adding foundation structure and power. While drinkable today I suggest you cellar this wine till late 2023 and try again. Excellent drinking from early 2024 through 2030+.

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit: 94/100. This is immediately appealing on the nose with ripe cherry, olive, almond and floral aromas, followed by a beautifully rounded palate offering supple mouthfeel and ripe fruit intensity. It's elegantly spicy and savory with excellent fruit purity, making it fabulously attractive.

Gourmet Traveller Wine: 92/100.  & Top New Release New Zealand Wines Made with the same attention to detail as the estate pinot but with silkier tannins and a more youthful, juicy red fruit character. Appealing, supple pinot that is already delicious. 

Bob Campbell, MW: Crimson Pinot Noir, a wine that I think offers extraordinarily good value.

Tasting Note

This Crimson has a fragrant nose of dried roses and hay. Fresh thyme and rosemary with spice notes of black cardamon, cinnamon and warm cedar. The palate is wonderfully open and calm, with red fruits gliding through to the finish. This wine is engaging and alluring now and will age gracefully.

Winemaker Helen Masters explains: "Crimson is about accessibility. We'd like people to have the experience of a good Pinot Noir, explore the variety and Martinborough's unique impact on it."

Aromas and flavours:

Additional information

Type: red wine

Difference between Ata Rangi Pinot Noir and Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir according to Ata Rangi: "Crimson is our selection of fruit from younger parcels of vines from our various vineyards on the Martinborough Terrace . In their youth, vines tend to be more fruit expressive, gaining more complexity with more complex savoury notes with time. Now, Crimson is developing more depth of flavour, with a mix of vines aged from 5 to 25 years."

Harvest 2020: 2020 was marked by well-balanced vines and stunning fruit.

Winemaking: Fruit was hand-harvested with the majority desteemed and a small parcel whole bunch fermented. Indigenous yeast ferment took place in stainless steel tanks before the wine was racked off into French oak barrels and cellared for 10 months. As winemaker Helen Masters puts it: "The winemaking philosophy is the same as for our signature Pinot Noir: no enzymes or yeasts are added, providing a hands -off, traditional approach which we feel more truly expresses the site."

Cellaring potential: 2025-27

Alcohol: 14% vol

Residual sugar: 0 g/l

Bottle size: 0.75l

Notice: contains sulphites

Closure: Screwcap

Produced and bottled by: Ata Rangi Vineyard, PO Box 43, Martinborough 5741, New Zealand

Why Crimson? 

The name Crimson was inspired by the work of the Charitable Conservation Trust known as PROJECT

CRIMSON. Founded in 1990, its aim is to plant and protect New Zealand's stunning and much-loved

red-flowering native Christmas trees, pohutukawa and rata. The idea for Crimson Pinot Noir evolved from owner Clive's approach to the trust in 2003 for advice and support in his quest to re-establish rata across the lower North Island.

A portion of proceeds from the sale of Crimson helps to fund the trust.

Can't get enough of Pinot Noir? Discover our Pinot Noir assortment.