Worked through the current range of wines from this popular and well-respected New Zealand producer. On the whole, I was nonplussed. The Sauvignon Blanc and the cheapest Pinot Noir were the only two wines I’d consider purchasing, and that has just as much to do with their (relatively) low price points as it does the quality of those wines. My favorite of the tasting was probably the unusual red blend that capped the tasting.
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2010 Ata Rangi Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough (6/8/2011)
– tasted a couple glasses non-blind over an hour –
Expressive, typical Sauv. Blanc nose of strong cat pee and gooseberry. Pale green-yellow color. Medium-light bodied on the palate, with lots of tart acidity — maybe no malo?; citrus, with a pronounced greenness; 14% alc.; gut impression: 86 – 88.
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2009 Ata Rangi Chardonnay Craighall - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough (6/8/2011)
– tasted a single glass non-blind over 10 – 15 minutes –
Buttery popcorn Nose; Rich green-yellow color; soft palate, with smoky oak and a hint of sweetness; certainly seems like this did go through malo. Thought this was just okay.
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2010 Ata Rangi Pinot Gris Lismore - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough (6/8/2011)
– tasted a single glass non-blind over 10 – 15 minutes –
Nose was not expressive, but vigorous swirling did release faint notes of white peach and spicy florals. Nearly colorless in the glass, and medium-light bodied on the palate. Nearly flavorless: light flavors of gooseberry and lychee; not much finish; alcohol stings a bit on the gums. If the palate could have reflected the faint hints of promise shown on the Nose, I may have liked this; alas, it did not.
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2009 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Crimson - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough (6/8/2011)
– tasted a couple glasses non-blind over 75 – 90 minutes –
This entry-level Pinot offering showed a nice perfumed red berry Nose – not complex, but pleasant. Purple-ruby color of medium-light depth; medium-light bodied. Simple on the palate, with some light purple fruit and enjoyable earthy/leathery tones. It did seem a bit green/stalky, too. Fine tannins provided a little bit of grip. 14% alc… This was my favorite Pinot Noir of the Ata Rangi range that I tasted today: was it the one I scored the highest? No, but it did come close. Wwas it the most complex? Maybe not, but it seemed to have more to offer in the way of “pinot noir character” than the others. Additionally, the price point on this makes it much more attractive than the others (but does not affect my score). Gut impression: 85.
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2009 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough (6/8/2011)
– tasted a single glass non-blind over 10 – 15 minutes –
Nose was very tight: a bit sweet-smelling, with red candy and raspberry/cranberry aromas. Purple-ruby color of medium-light depth; medium-light bodied. This came across as more fruity than earthy - cranberry - and, like the “Crimson” Pinot, seemed a bit green. Somewhat simple. 14% alc… Gut impression score: 86
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2008 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir McCrone - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough (6/8/2011)
– tasted a single glass non-blind over 10 – 15 minutes –
Nose was moderately expressive – perfume, black dirt, and freshly-cut grass. Ruby color of medium-light depth; medium bodied. Another ho-hum Pinot from this range: light red fruits with the same stemmy/stalky character of the previous two Pinots; a tad bitter; dry; decent acidity; loose structure; not concentrated; at best, moderately tight today, but I did try this at the end of the tasting when the bottle had been open for a good hour and a half. 14% alc… Gut impression score: 85
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2008 Ata Rangi Célèbre - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough (6/8/2011)
– tasted a single glass non-blind over 10 – 15 minutes –
– 35% Mourvedre, 35% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon –
Moderately-expressive to expressive Nose: lots of typical Rhone-type fruitiness with a hint of spice and no funk. Garnet color of medium depth; medium-light bodied. Palate was moderately intense: Merlot-type of fruitiness and cigar spice; weak rear palate; 13.5% alc…; Probably my favorite wine of the tasting, but too expensive for me to consider purchasing.
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