Ata Rangi, Martinborough, New Zealand

The wines of Ata Rangi, Martinborough, New Zealand

Ata Rangi, Puruatanga Road, P O Box 43, Martinborough, NZ
Phone: + 64 6 306 9570 Fax: +64 6 306 9523
Website: www.atarangi.co.nz
UK agent: Liberty Wine (info@libertywine.co.uk)

One of the pioneers of the Martinborough region, now famed for its Pinot Noir, Ata Rangi’s first vineyard was planted in 1980 by Clive Paton. Sounds recent, but by New Zealand standards this makes them old vines, some 27 years later. The initial 5 ha of vines has expanded, and now Ata Rangi source from around 100 hectares, both owned and leased. Their speciality is Pinot Noir, but they also excel with Chardonnay and other red varieties. The soils of all these vineyards share a similar profile: shallow silt-loam over deep, free-draining alluvial gravels. This is one of those estates where the hype is justified: the wines are fantastic, and worth the elevated prices they fetch.

The notes below are from two separate tastings, one in 2007 and one in 2004

From 2007:

Ata Rangi 'Craighall' Chardonnay 2005 Martinborough
Quite focused. Very bold and fresh fruit with well integrated oak. It's concentrated, classy, bright, minerally and lemony with some spiciness. A sophisticated Chardonnay. 92/100 (RRP £21.95)

Ata Rangi 'Crimson' Pinot Noir 2005 Martinborough
Lovely fresh, focused cherry fruit nose with some earthy, spicy complexity. The palate has lovely expressive fruit with a bit of sweetness and a nice earthy edge. Brilliant balance here: it's nicely elegant. 92/100 (RRP £14.95)

Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2005 Marlborough
Complex, elegant, meaty and spicy with dark cherry fruit on the nose. There's some earthy depth here. The palate is concentrated and classy with meaty, spicy complexity and some nice firm, refined tannic structure. A brilliant wine. 94/100 (£27.95)

Ata Rangi 'Célèbre' Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah 2004 Martinborough
The nose is minerally, gravelly and smooth, with some subtlety. The palate is expressive. Not big, but showing smooth, sweet fruit. Good complexity here: lovely balance is the key. 92/100

From November 2004:

Ata Rangi Craighall Chardonnay 2002 Martinborough
The top Chardonnay from a single vineyard of 2.8 hectares. Ripe intense fruit on the nose. The palate is showy with ripe, expressive herby, nutty fruit. Very intense with notes of caramel and figs. Fruit driven and intense with good acidity. Very good/excellent 90/100

Ata Rangi Célèbre 2001 Martinborough
A red wine that’s a blend of Syrah, Merlot and Cabernets. Deep coloured. There’s a bit of a herbal edge to the rich, intense blackcurrant fruit. Bold. Good acidity on the wonderfully fruity palate, with a blackcurrant essence character. Very tasty. Very good/excellent 90/00

Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001 Martinborough
This has a reputation as being consistently one of New Zealand’s best Pinots, and I can understand why. Perfumed, herb-tinged undergrowthy nose is varietally true. The midweight palate is quite complex with a distinctive herbal undergrowthy edge and some meatiness. Tasty and quite elegant. Very good/excellent 91/100

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