2010 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough

When Ata Rangi was recognised by its peers as being the first equal producer of Pinot Noir in this country I thought the honour well deserved. As an early pioneer of top Pinot Noir this small family company has never rested on its laurels but has worked hard to build an even better wine every year. This is one of Ata Rangi's best ever wines. The star feature is a silken, mouth-filling and totally seductive texture although the complex layering of fruit and savoury flavours is nearly as appealing. I find it hard to imagine how they can improve on this wine ... but they will.

The 2010 Ata Rangi is once again all class and right in the style of fragrant, sweetly perfumed pinot that we've grown to expect from this vineyard. The nose has ripe plum and cherry fruits, deep rose perfume and integrated spicy complexity. Sweet earthy nuances are here, cedar and vanillin too. The palate's enthralling for the sheer plushness and density it delivers, velvet- like and rich, it is also elegant and precise. Tannins are ripe and fine, some gentle firmness showing through in this vintage which I like. They fan and curve through the middle and make a composed, lively leap off the finish. The finish is reminiscent of the perfect gymnastic dismount. Brilliant. Drink in 2016.

Lovely floral aromatics with great acid-fruit tension and energy. This is a beautiful Pinot with layers of flavours of sweet spices, wild raspberry, with herbs in the finish. An elegant wine with great potential to age.

Ata Rangi bliver i dag af mange betragtet som landets bedste udi pinot noir. Ata Rangi holder i modsætning til trenden i øjeblikket, fast i ideen om et sammenstik af de bedste partier til husets topvin (er pengepungen ikke til de priser, kan man købe Crimson i stedet for). Med flagskibsvinen her bliver det mere alvorligt. Kirsebæreddike, tranebærskind og rødbedesaft. Forbilledlig kombination af jordede noter, stramhed, moden syre, let tanninbid og uendelighed i eftersmagen - nærmest komplet, kom bare an Chambolle-Musigny!

Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2010 Pinot Noir's nose is just a little closed giving mulberry and black cherry hints with accents of garrique, violets, mossy bark and some clove hints. Medium bodied, it has great structure with medium to firm fine grained tannins and good but not over-whelming acid freshness complimenting the black and red fruit flavors, finishing with some mineral notes.

Top-Scoring Pinot Noirs from New Zealand" liste juni 2012: "Exotic aromatics of mahogany and sandalwood follow through to supple red licorice, cranberry, cherry and raspberry flavors that are elegant, precise and balanced. Baking spice details of clove and nutmeg persist on the finish. Drink now through 2020.

Flot duft af sorte kirsebær, kirsebær, skovbær, violer, peber. En tæt flot vin med lang eftersmag. Køligere og mere burgundisk i stilen.

Flot duft af sorte kirsebær, kirsebær, skovbær, violer, peber. En tæt flot vin med lang eftersmag. Køligere og mere burgundisk i stilen.

When Ata Rangi was recognised by its peers as being the first equal producer of Pinot Noir in this country I thought the honour well deserved. As an early pioneer of top Pinot Noir this small family company has never rested on its laurels but has worked hard to build an even better wine every year. This is one of Ata Rangi's best ever wines. The star feature is a silken, mouth-filling and totally seductive texture although the complex layering of fruit and savoury flavours is nearly as appealing. I find it hard to imagine how they can improve on this wine ... but they will.