Description
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2018 (JS96)
Ata Rangi crafts New Zealand's most legendary Martinborough Pinot Noir from century-old estate vines. The 2018 flagship showcases classic Martinborough red fruit, floral perfume and terroir-driven minerality with elegant balance and silken tannins—15+ years aging potential.
Winemaking & Style
From oldest estate vineyard parcels on Martinborough Terrace, 40% fabled Abel clone (smuggled from Burgundy), limestone-clay gravel soils.
Hand-harvested, 35% whole bunch fermentation for spice complexity, open fermenters for precise extraction.
11 months French oak (35% new), unfiltered to preserve complete site expression.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep ruby with purple rim
Aroma: Red cherry, wild raspberry, violet, thyme, cedar, mushroom, five spice
Palate: Elegant medium bodied, bright red fruit core, velvety tannins supporting structure, floral-mineral mid-palate richness, tea-spice endless finish
Ratings & Accolades
Sam Kim: 97 points — "Immensely complex, multi-layered, seductive length"
James Suckling: 96 points — "Classic Martinborough cherry-spice balance"
Bob Campbell: 96 points — "Elegant, aromatic with great aging potential"
Cameron Douglas: 95 points — "Youthful tension, excellent pedigree"
Decanting time: 45-60 minutes
Serving temperature: 14–16°C
Suggested pairings: Roast spring chicken, soy-sauce poached chicken, pan-seared duck breast, oyster sauce beef, black pepper chicken wings, honey-glazed char siu, braised chicken with mushrooms.
Special Notes: Flagship from oldest Martinborough estate parcels, Abel clone (40%) + classic clones, extremely limited production; 2018 warm vintage delivers ripe fruit with elegant structure, optimal from 2023 through 2033+ for leather-earth complexity.
Region: New Zealand, Martinborough
Type: Red Wine
Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir (old vine blend)
Alcohol: 13.5%
Volume: 750ml