2017 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Not 100% clarity. Mid ruby. Thoroughly satisfying nose that combines some of the grunt of burgundy with the accessibility of New World Pinot. Just the right mix of freshness and fruit. Maybe finishes just a little more suddenly than ideal but it's awfully well done. (JR)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Really pristine fruit aromas here with such pure, ripe red cherries and roses, as well as gently earthy and spicy nuances. Very fresh, precisely ripe and a pinot you can sit and just breathe in for days. The palate has a velvety layer that few others manage to find; silky at the core, succulent in the center and delivering such vibrant, red-cherry flavors in a long, pristine and fresh, red-cherry finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
Cool, slightly minty stem notes accent bright cherry fruit in the 2017 Pinot Noir, most of which was picked before the rains, according to winemaker Helen Masters. It's crisp and medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, refreshing finish. It may be even longer-lived than I've suggested.