ATA RANGI MARTINBOROUGH PINOT NOIR 2021
| Grape: | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Vineyard: | Ata Rangi |
| Origin: | Martinborough, NZ |
| Vintage: | 2021 |
| ABV%: | 13.5% |
| Colour: | Ruby red |
| Aromas: | A full fragrant nose of juniper, rose petal, and plum meld with spice notes of cardamon and sumac |
| Flavours: | The palate concentration is exceptional, a hallmark of a small yielding year on the Martinborough Terrace. Buoyed by bright acidity and spice fragrance this is a very compelling release with finely coating tannins that extend the full length of the palate. The 2021 is an exciting wine to cellar as time will allow the more beguiling aromatic side to reveal itself to the full. |
Ata Rangi, meaning ‘dawn sky, new beginning’ is owned and managed by a family trio – Clive Paton, his wife Phyll and his sister Alison. Clive planted the bare, stony five-hectare home paddock at the edge of Martinborough in 1980 and, in doing so, was one of a handful of people who pioneered grape growing in the area. Joined by winemaker Helen Masters, Ata Rangi is renowned for their Pinot Noir, which is consistently ranked as one of New Zealand's best and in 2010 was awarded the ‘Tipuranga Teitei O Aotearoa,’ New Zealand’s ‘Grand Cru’ equivalent. Ata Rangi also produces a range of white wines including Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.
Vineyard
Ata Rangi's vineyards are situated in Martinborough, in the Wairarapa region to the north of Wellington. Grapes are sourced from four plots: the Ata Rangi Home Block, Walnut Ridge, Champ Ali and Dimattina, which all lie on a thin layer of well-draining alluvial soil. Only the oldest and most revered parcels of fruit are used, which are 27 years old on average. The clonal make up of Ata Rangi Pinot Noir is unique to the region with the major portion being the Abel clone. This clone is later to flower and avoids some of the worst of the spring weather.
2021 Vintage
Early season frosts and cool weather during the flowering period resulted in low bunch numbers that were open and small berried. As a result, 2021 is a small yielding year in terms of quantity but concentrated and seamless in terms of weight and tannin. Weather conditions for the rest of season were kind and enabled us to harvest clean, impeccable fruit with ripe seeds and bright acid. Made from only our oldest pinot noir plantings on the Martinborough Terrace, this wine is the best of six small vineyards all within 500 m of our winery. The result is a complex, elegant wine, beautifully perfumed in the classic Ata Rangi style.
Winemakers Highlights
40% whole bunch with the remainder destemmed, fermentation by indigenous yeasts. Total tank time 15- 23 days. After pressing, complete malolactic ferment in oak. 11 months total in French oak (30% new), then blended and held for further 8 months prior to bottling.