Craggy Range Sophia Hawkes Bay 2009
"Very dark, near impenetrable, purple-hued, ruby red in colour, this has a full, intense and concentrated nose of dark plum and spicy berry fruits, beautifully layered with aromas of earth and truffles, and notes of lavender perfumes and lifted oak. Rich and concentrated, this is nearly massive in its density and body, the fruit flavours filling the palate, showing succulent dark plums, liquorice as well as pepper, soy sauce and Oriental spices. The extraction is serious, and provides a powerful structure, yet the tannins are fine and powdery. The wine features incredible tension and freshness from the acidity, and the palate has great length. The balance of the wine offers remarkable accessibility, but this will develop greater interest and complexity over the next 10-15+ years. Match with beef and venison as well as firm cheeses. 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot fermented to 14.2% alc., the wine aged 18 months in 45% new French oak barriques." Raymond Chan – 20.0/20 points ★★★★★
"Bordeaux beware: this blend of 65% merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot is every bit as good as that of many classed growth chateaux wines from the outstanding '09 Bordeaux vintage. The colour is superb, deep crimson grading to magenta on the rim, the ultra-expressive bouquet with blackcurrant and cassis to the fore, then awe-inspiring drive through the length of the classic medium-bodied palate, fruit tannins and quality French oak seamlessly sewn together. 14.2% alc, cork Drink to: 2024." James Halliday, The Weekend Australian - 97 points
"Medium deep colour. Lovely fragrant plum/violet/praline aromas with touches of cedar/spice. Deep set buoyant wine with plum/dark chocolate flavours, velvety tannins and cedar oak. Very smooth and seductive wine. Power and elegance. One for the long haul." Andrew Caillard MW – 19/20 points
"Delicious rich, ripe and smooth in its youth, this Gimblett Gravels blend of merlot (65%) and cabernet sauvignon (25%) also has splashes of cabernet franc (7%) and petit verdot (3%). Matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (45% new), it is deeply coloured, full-bodied, sweet-fruited and supple, with highly concentrated, ripe cassis, plum and spice flavours." Winestate Magazine ★★★★★
"Very deep garnet-purple, the 2009 Gimblett Gravels Sophia is blended of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The nose is very youthful and a little closed, giving notes of ripe plums, mulberries and crushed blackberries over cloves, pencil shavings, cedar, mace and coffee beans with a hint of dark chocolate. Medium-full bodied, the tight-knit palate gives balanced, medium-high acid, firm grainy tannins and lots of berry and spice layers, finishing long. Consider drinking it 2013 to 2022+." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 95 points
"Deep purple-red. Quite strongly oaked aroma; intense flavour, clean and fresh; but also smooth and the tannins are ripe and balanced. Fine texture and good length. Very smart wine. Drink: 2011-2030." Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 95 points
"Big, ripe plum flavors with toasty oak and hints of spice, blackcurrant and florals on the finish. Seamless and rich. Approachable with soft, ripe tannins and plenty of fleshy fruit but should age." Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review - 95 points
"Oak has a clear influence here but it's such sexy oak and so well knitted with the fruit that it's difficult to view it as anything other than a positive. The fruit tastes of blueberries, iodine, dried herbs and oyster shells. There are chicory and nut and pencil-like notes and texturally the wine is creamy. For all its power and oak it feels like an effortless kind of wine. Like it still has a bit in the tank. I'd be cellaring this to get the best from it. Drink: 2015 – 2022." Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front – 94+ points
"Produced entirely from Craggy Range's Gimblett Gravels Vineyard nestled on the right bank of the Ngaruroro River, this is a blend of the very best Merlot and Cabernet Franc parcels of the vineyard. Always classy, always evocative and always richly textured. Dark plum, blackcurrant, dried rosemary, cocoa dust and a hint of vanilla vie for attention. Brooding and ripe. The palate is layered with fine dusty tannins providing the structure for the ample flavor and length. Exceptional balance between fruit richness, tannic backbone and acidity is immaculate." Jancis Robinson MW – 17.5/20 points
Merlot (65% ), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Cabernet Franc (7% ), Petit Verdot (3%)
"Very dark, near impenetrable, purple-hued, ruby red in colour, this has a full, intense and concentrated nose of dark plum and spicy berry fruits, beautifully layered with aromas of earth and truffles, and notes of lavender perfumes and lifted oak. Rich and concentrated, this is nearly massive in its density and body, the fruit flavours filling the palate, showing succulent dark plums, liquorice as well as pepper, soy sauce and Oriental spices. The extraction is serious, and provides a powerful structure, yet the tannins are fine and powdery. The wine features incredible tension and freshness from the acidity, and the palate has great length. The balance of the wine offers remarkable accessibility, but this will develop greater interest and complexity over the next 10-15+ years. Match with beef and venison as well as firm cheeses. 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot fermented to 14.2% alc., the wine aged 18 months in 45% new French oak barriques." Raymond Chan – 20.0/20 points ★★★★★
"Bordeaux beware: this blend of 65% merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot is every bit as good as that of many classed growth chateaux wines from the outstanding '09 Bordeaux vintage. The colour is superb, deep crimson grading to magenta on the rim, the ultra-expressive bouquet with blackcurrant and cassis to the fore, then awe-inspiring drive through the length of the classic medium-bodied palate, fruit tannins and quality French oak seamlessly sewn together. 14.2% alc, cork Drink to: 2024." James Halliday, The Weekend Australian - 97 points
"Medium deep colour. Lovely fragrant plum/violet/praline aromas with touches of cedar/spice. Deep set buoyant wine with plum/dark chocolate flavours, velvety tannins and cedar oak. Very smooth and seductive wine. Power and elegance. One for the long haul." Andrew Caillard MW – 19/20 points
"Delicious rich, ripe and smooth in its youth, this Gimblett Gravels blend of merlot (65%) and cabernet sauvignon (25%) also has splashes of cabernet franc (7%) and petit verdot (3%). Matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (45% new), it is deeply coloured, full-bodied, sweet-fruited and supple, with highly concentrated, ripe cassis, plum and spice flavours." Winestate Magazine ★★★★★
"Very deep garnet-purple, the 2009 Gimblett Gravels Sophia is blended of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The nose is very youthful and a little closed, giving notes of ripe plums, mulberries and crushed blackberries over cloves, pencil shavings, cedar, mace and coffee beans with a hint of dark chocolate. Medium-full bodied, the tight-knit palate gives balanced, medium-high acid, firm grainy tannins and lots of berry and spice layers, finishing long. Consider drinking it 2013 to 2022+." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 95 points
"Deep purple-red. Quite strongly oaked aroma; intense flavour, clean and fresh; but also smooth and the tannins are ripe and balanced. Fine texture and good length. Very smart wine. Drink: 2011-2030." Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 95 points
"Big, ripe plum flavors with toasty oak and hints of spice, blackcurrant and florals on the finish. Seamless and rich. Approachable with soft, ripe tannins and plenty of fleshy fruit but should age." Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review - 95 points
"Oak has a clear influence here but it's such sexy oak and so well knitted with the fruit that it's difficult to view it as anything other than a positive. The fruit tastes of blueberries, iodine, dried herbs and oyster shells. There are chicory and nut and pencil-like notes and texturally the wine is creamy. For all its power and oak it feels like an effortless kind of wine. Like it still has a bit in the tank. I'd be cellaring this to get the best from it. Drink: 2015 – 2022." Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front – 94+ points
"Produced entirely from Craggy Range's Gimblett Gravels Vineyard nestled on the right bank of the Ngaruroro River, this is a blend of the very best Merlot and Cabernet Franc parcels of the vineyard. Always classy, always evocative and always richly textured. Dark plum, blackcurrant, dried rosemary, cocoa dust and a hint of vanilla vie for attention. Brooding and ripe. The palate is layered with fine dusty tannins providing the structure for the ample flavor and length. Exceptional balance between fruit richness, tannic backbone and acidity is immaculate." Jancis Robinson MW – 17.5/20 points
Merlot (65% ), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Cabernet Franc (7% ), Petit Verdot (3%)
"Very dark, near impenetrable, purple-hued, ruby red in colour, this has a full, intense and concentrated nose of dark plum and spicy berry fruits, beautifully layered with aromas of earth and truffles, and notes of lavender perfumes and lifted oak. Rich and concentrated, this is nearly massive in its density and body, the fruit flavours filling the palate, showing succulent dark plums, liquorice as well as pepper, soy sauce and Oriental spices. The extraction is serious, and provides a powerful structure, yet the tannins are fine and powdery. The wine features incredible tension and freshness from the acidity, and the palate has great length. The balance of the wine offers remarkable accessibility, but this will develop greater interest and complexity over the next 10-15+ years. Match with beef and venison as well as firm cheeses. 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot fermented to 14.2% alc., the wine aged 18 months in 45% new French oak barriques." Raymond Chan – 20.0/20 points ★★★★★
"Bordeaux beware: this blend of 65% merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot is every bit as good as that of many classed growth chateaux wines from the outstanding '09 Bordeaux vintage. The colour is superb, deep crimson grading to magenta on the rim, the ultra-expressive bouquet with blackcurrant and cassis to the fore, then awe-inspiring drive through the length of the classic medium-bodied palate, fruit tannins and quality French oak seamlessly sewn together. 14.2% alc, cork Drink to: 2024." James Halliday, The Weekend Australian - 97 points
"Medium deep colour. Lovely fragrant plum/violet/praline aromas with touches of cedar/spice. Deep set buoyant wine with plum/dark chocolate flavours, velvety tannins and cedar oak. Very smooth and seductive wine. Power and elegance. One for the long haul." Andrew Caillard MW – 19/20 points
"Delicious rich, ripe and smooth in its youth, this Gimblett Gravels blend of merlot (65%) and cabernet sauvignon (25%) also has splashes of cabernet franc (7%) and petit verdot (3%). Matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (45% new), it is deeply coloured, full-bodied, sweet-fruited and supple, with highly concentrated, ripe cassis, plum and spice flavours." Winestate Magazine ★★★★★
"Very deep garnet-purple, the 2009 Gimblett Gravels Sophia is blended of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The nose is very youthful and a little closed, giving notes of ripe plums, mulberries and crushed blackberries over cloves, pencil shavings, cedar, mace and coffee beans with a hint of dark chocolate. Medium-full bodied, the tight-knit palate gives balanced, medium-high acid, firm grainy tannins and lots of berry and spice layers, finishing long. Consider drinking it 2013 to 2022+." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 95 points
"Deep purple-red. Quite strongly oaked aroma; intense flavour, clean and fresh; but also smooth and the tannins are ripe and balanced. Fine texture and good length. Very smart wine. Drink: 2011-2030." Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 95 points
"Big, ripe plum flavors with toasty oak and hints of spice, blackcurrant and florals on the finish. Seamless and rich. Approachable with soft, ripe tannins and plenty of fleshy fruit but should age." Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review - 95 points
"Oak has a clear influence here but it's such sexy oak and so well knitted with the fruit that it's difficult to view it as anything other than a positive. The fruit tastes of blueberries, iodine, dried herbs and oyster shells. There are chicory and nut and pencil-like notes and texturally the wine is creamy. For all its power and oak it feels like an effortless kind of wine. Like it still has a bit in the tank. I'd be cellaring this to get the best from it. Drink: 2015 – 2022." Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front – 94+ points
"Produced entirely from Craggy Range's Gimblett Gravels Vineyard nestled on the right bank of the Ngaruroro River, this is a blend of the very best Merlot and Cabernet Franc parcels of the vineyard. Always classy, always evocative and always richly textured. Dark plum, blackcurrant, dried rosemary, cocoa dust and a hint of vanilla vie for attention. Brooding and ripe. The palate is layered with fine dusty tannins providing the structure for the ample flavor and length. Exceptional balance between fruit richness, tannic backbone and acidity is immaculate." Jancis Robinson MW – 17.5/20 points
Merlot (65% ), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Cabernet Franc (7% ), Petit Verdot (3%)
