2015 Craggy Range Sophia Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay

Alluring berry and cherry aromas. Depth on the palate with an intelligent oak treatment giving vanilla, tobacco and cloves and a lengthy finish.

A beautiful Sophia. The concentration, the fruit presence and purity, the measured tannins and confident ripeness - there's so much to impress here and the wine is at the start of a very long ride.Blueberry and cassis, cherries and violets, fresh earth and stony elements, too. The palate holds long and fleshy with a flawlessly integrated array of flavors, varieties and tannin textures. It builds and finishes assertively in the mode of great Claret. You can approach it now, but it will hit full stride around 2025 and drink for at least a decade after that.

The 2015 Sophia is a blend of 73% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc. Vanilla and cedar notes frame ample black cherry and cassis fruit on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate boasts supple, velvety tannins and a long, plush finish. One of the more approachable young Sophias, it drinks well now but should age well for at least 10 years. 2017 - 2027.

Dense and juicy, featuring a mineral edge to the plum, cassis and blackberry flavors, with a dash of sarsaparilla. The tannins are firm and velvety, showing plenty of concentration. Toasted herb notes linger. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028. 900 cases made.