Craggy Range was founded around 1997. The philosophy was to select only the best parcels in New Zealand and then plant only grape varieties perfectly suited to the terroir. This made it the first winery in the Southern Hemisphere to adopt this approach.
The Syrah grapes for this red wine come from the Hawke's Bay region. The Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District was created by a flood in 1876 when the Ngaruroro River changed course, leaving behind a gravelly landscape. The area is a place of warmth, stone, and sandy alluvial soils. This unique combination, along with other climatic factors such as sunshine, humidity, and rainfall, means the gravel retains heat and leads to optimal ripening for Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The stylistic characteristics of red wines from this vineyard are richness, ripeness, and elegance, with a characteristic fine, dusty tannic finish.
After careful selection and curing of the grapes, they are gently destemmed and pressed in the cellar. Vinification took place in stainless steel vats, followed by aging in French oak barrels for 17 months; 22 percent of the barrels were new.
The Gimblett Gravels Vineyard Syrah from Craggy Range is a single-varietal New Zealand red wine with a strong purple color in the glass. The bouquet is carried by spicy berry aromas—boysenberry, freshly ground pepper, and anise are prominent. The aromas on the nose are supported by fresh herbs. The palate also enjoys juicy red berries. The body is perfectly balanced and harmonizes beautifully with the subtle acidity. The tannins are accompanied by a mineral note. The finish is wonderfully long and dry.
