Dec 30, 2022
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Craggy Range
| Owner(s) | Terry Peabody, Peabody Family, Steve Smith |
| Web site | www.craggyrange.com |
| Link to this site |
Craggy Range is a partnership between business man Terry Peabody and accomplished viticulturist Steve Smith MW. Formed in 1998 with the purchase of wine growing land in Hawke’s Bay Gimblett Gravels subregion (a parcel eventually sold by Gimblett Gravels, an international concrete company), Craggy Range has since acquired several Pinot Noir vineyards in other regions, including Martin’s Road, Central Otago Station, and 350 acres on Te Muna Road in the Wairarapa region of Martinborough. The 230-acre Te Muna Road Vineyard was planted in 1999 in the Martinborough Terraces subregion of Martinborough, separated from the Terraces by the Huangarua River. The vineyard is largely planted to Pinot Noir, with lesser amounts of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling. Craggy Range oversees a total of 550 acres. Reportedly, Peabody has invested at least $60 million in the venture.
Steve Smith was the first viticulturist to earn an MW and earned his reputation by revolutionizing canopy management with Dr. Richard Smart. He researched phylloxera at University of California at Davis and Robert Mondavi Winery. A native of Invercargill at the southern tip of the South Island, and the son of a bootlegger, he has risen to the top of the New Zealand wine industry. He is one of the country's nine Masters of Wine.
Craggy Range specializes in single vineyard wines that are produced in limited volumes and represent the most complete expression of the vineyards. The winery makes about half a dozen different Pinot Noirs made of grapes grown on single sites.Production is 45,000 cases annually.
American Doug Wiser, a protege of Ted Lemon (Littorai), was the winemaker here until his tragic kite surfing accident in 2004. The current Pinot Noir winemakers working under the direction of Steve Smith are Adrian Baker (Martinborough wines), Rod Easthope (Hawke's Bay wines) and Matt Stafford who has worked alongside Rod Easthope and became chief winemaker in June, 2012, with Easthope assuming a consulting role. Craggy Range is an ambitious project that could only be accomplished with significant financial resources (the vineyards alone are reportedly to have cost $36 million!).
Both Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc I have sampled are superb examples of New Zealand's bounty. Annual production is 55,000 cases. 100% of Martinborough wines are estate grown. The wines are generally available through fine wine retailers in the United States (imported by Kobrand Group, NY, NY).
Articles About Craggy Range
New Zealand Pinot Noir: Hot or Not? (9.12 10/1/2012)
New Zealand Pinot Noir: Latest Sips are Ripe, Bold and Fruity (8.14 4/23/2010)
Revisiting New Zealand Pinot Noir (8.25 11/7/2010)
Revisiting New Zealand Pinot Noir on the Occasion of Spectacular 2013 Vintage (10.25 2/5/2016)
Small Sips of New Zealand Pinot Noir (7.4 10/13/2008)
Reviewed Wines
2011 Craggy Range Kidnapper’s Vineyard Hawkes Bay New Zealand Chardonnay
13.0% alc.,
$19, screwcap. Imported by Kobrand Corp, NY, NY.
·
Very pale straw color in the glass. Fresh aromas
of green apples, lychee and marzipan. Crisp, juicy and slightly viscous on the palate with flavors of
citrus, baked pear, apple galette, and walnuts, finishing upbeat with a good cut of citrusy acid. Very
good.
Reviewed October 2, 2012
ARTICLE »
2011 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Martinborough New Zealand Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.62, TA 0.53, $34.99,
screwcap. Imported by Kobrand Corp., New York, NY.
Business man Terry Peabody established this winery and
engaged Kiwi viticulturist and Master of Wine, Steve Smith,
to become his partner. This winery planted most of its
vineyards in the late 1990s and early 2000s. From the
beginning in 1998, they pursued single vineyard wines and
Craggy Range was the first in the Southern hemisphere to adopt making
single vineyard wines from multiple regions of the country. The 230-acre
Te Muna Road Vineyard was planted largely to Pinot Noir in 1999 in the
Martinborough Terraces subregion of Martinborough. There are eight
clones in more than 40 different parcels. The current winemakers work under the direction of Steve Smith. 10%
whole cluster, inoculated yeast fermentation, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 27% new. Filtered.
·
Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Lovely aromas of Bing cherry, rose petal, sandalwood and
toasty oak. An intense charge of cherry fruit greets the palate, carrying its goodness through a pleasurable
finish. A very sleep wine with a silky texture, a deft touch of oak, and a delightful kiss of cherry on the finish.
Score: 93.
Reviewed February 5, 2016
ARTICLE »
2010 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough New Zealand Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $35,
screwcap. Imported by Kobrand Corp, NY, NY. Indigenous yeast fermentations, aged more than a year in
French oak barrels without racking.
·
Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Slight reduction and oaky upon
opening, becoming very savory over time with aromas of bramble, herbs and wild, dark red berries. Fruits in
the redder spectrum are featured with a green, herbal tone. Moderately light in weight with supple tannins and
an acid-driven, juicy finish. Good.
Reviewed October 2, 2012
ARTICLE »
2008 Craggy Range Kidnapper’s Vineyard Martinborough New Zealand Chardonnay
13.5% alc.,
$17. Imported by Kobrand Corp, NY, NY. The 2008 vintage was stellar for Chardonnay in New Zealand.
·
Very light straw color. Pleasingly clean aromas of white peaches and citrus. Discreetly rich flavors of
white stone fruits and apples with a citric peel lift on the refreshing finish. Good (+).
Reviewed November 7, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough New Zealand Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 2,600 cases, $33. Indigenous yeast, aged over 12 months in French
oak without racking.
·
Moderately dark in color. The nose is typical of a young
wine, needing time to reveal its charms. Black cherries, spice box, cut flowers
and prominent oak aromas. Intense purple fruits on the palate with hints of pine
sap and oak. Smooth and sexy with a lingering finish bright with fruit.
Beautifully balanced. Very good.
Reviewed April 23, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough New Zealand Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $33. Imported by Kobrand Corp, NY, NY. Vineyard
planted to 8 clones in more than 40 different parcels. Indigenous yeast
fermentation, aging for 1 year in French oak barrels without racking. Moderately
dark reddish-purple color in the glass.
·
Complex nose offering scents of black
cherries, strawberries, sandalwood, and dried herbs including sage. Very tasty
essence of dark red cherries and berries with noticeable persistence of cherry
flavors on the generous finish. A very subtle green note and hint of tobacco and
mushroom peeks out. Softly textured and very smooth in the mouth and very
approachable now. Very good.
Reviewed November 7, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $45. Imported by the Kobrand Group, NY, NY.
·
The nose turned me
on and I wanted to dive in. Fragrant melange of red fruits, especially cherries,
with a sidecar of brown sugar, grass, earth and wet stones all of which carry
over to the juicy flavors. All silk and satin with impeccable balance, perfectly
integrated oak, and a notably persistent aromatic finish displaying cherries and
raspberries. This is pinotosity exemplified. All world. Tasted twice.
Reviewed October 13, 2008
ARTICLE »
2003 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $37. The Te Muna Road Vineyard was planted in 1999. Imported by Kobrand Corp, N.Y, N.Y..
·
This is a particularly charming wine. The attractive nose features wild, crushed strawberries and cherries. Luscious black cherry fruit and sandalwood burst on the mid palate. The tannins are velvety, the texture is creamy, and the finish is clean and brisk.
Reviewed April 16, 2006
2011 Craggy Range Kidnapper’s Vineyard Hawkes Bay New Zealand Chardonnay
13.0% alc., $19, screwcap. Imported by Kobrand Corp, NY, NY. · Very pale straw color in the glass. Fresh aromas of green apples, lychee and marzipan. Crisp, juicy and slightly viscous on the palate with flavors of citrus, baked pear, apple galette, and walnuts, finishing upbeat with a good cut of citrusy acid. Very good. Reviewed October 2, 2012 ARTICLE »
2011 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Martinborough New Zealand Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.62, TA 0.53, $34.99, screwcap. Imported by Kobrand Corp., New York, NY. Business man Terry Peabody established this winery and engaged Kiwi viticulturist and Master of Wine, Steve Smith, to become his partner. This winery planted most of its vineyards in the late 1990s and early 2000s. From the beginning in 1998, they pursued single vineyard wines and Craggy Range was the first in the Southern hemisphere to adopt making single vineyard wines from multiple regions of the country. The 230-acre Te Muna Road Vineyard was planted largely to Pinot Noir in 1999 in the Martinborough Terraces subregion of Martinborough. There are eight clones in more than 40 different parcels. The current winemakers work under the direction of Steve Smith. 10% whole cluster, inoculated yeast fermentation, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 27% new. Filtered. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Lovely aromas of Bing cherry, rose petal, sandalwood and toasty oak. An intense charge of cherry fruit greets the palate, carrying its goodness through a pleasurable finish. A very sleep wine with a silky texture, a deft touch of oak, and a delightful kiss of cherry on the finish. Score: 93. Reviewed February 5, 2016 ARTICLE »
2010 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough New Zealand Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $35, screwcap. Imported by Kobrand Corp, NY, NY. Indigenous yeast fermentations, aged more than a year in French oak barrels without racking. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Slight reduction and oaky upon opening, becoming very savory over time with aromas of bramble, herbs and wild, dark red berries. Fruits in the redder spectrum are featured with a green, herbal tone. Moderately light in weight with supple tannins and an acid-driven, juicy finish. Good. Reviewed October 2, 2012 ARTICLE »
2008 Craggy Range Kidnapper’s Vineyard Martinborough New Zealand Chardonnay
13.5% alc., $17. Imported by Kobrand Corp, NY, NY. The 2008 vintage was stellar for Chardonnay in New Zealand. · Very light straw color. Pleasingly clean aromas of white peaches and citrus. Discreetly rich flavors of white stone fruits and apples with a citric peel lift on the refreshing finish. Good (+). Reviewed November 7, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough New Zealand Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 2,600 cases, $33. Indigenous yeast, aged over 12 months in French oak without racking. · Moderately dark in color. The nose is typical of a young wine, needing time to reveal its charms. Black cherries, spice box, cut flowers and prominent oak aromas. Intense purple fruits on the palate with hints of pine sap and oak. Smooth and sexy with a lingering finish bright with fruit. Beautifully balanced. Very good. Reviewed April 23, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough New Zealand Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $33. Imported by Kobrand Corp, NY, NY. Vineyard planted to 8 clones in more than 40 different parcels. Indigenous yeast fermentation, aging for 1 year in French oak barrels without racking. Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. · Complex nose offering scents of black cherries, strawberries, sandalwood, and dried herbs including sage. Very tasty essence of dark red cherries and berries with noticeable persistence of cherry flavors on the generous finish. A very subtle green note and hint of tobacco and mushroom peeks out. Softly textured and very smooth in the mouth and very approachable now. Very good. Reviewed November 7, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $45. Imported by the Kobrand Group, NY, NY. · The nose turned me on and I wanted to dive in. Fragrant melange of red fruits, especially cherries, with a sidecar of brown sugar, grass, earth and wet stones all of which carry over to the juicy flavors. All silk and satin with impeccable balance, perfectly integrated oak, and a notably persistent aromatic finish displaying cherries and raspberries. This is pinotosity exemplified. All world. Tasted twice. Reviewed October 13, 2008 ARTICLE »
2003 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Martinborough Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $37. The Te Muna Road Vineyard was planted in 1999. Imported by Kobrand Corp, N.Y, N.Y.. · This is a particularly charming wine. The attractive nose features wild, crushed strawberries and cherries. Luscious black cherry fruit and sandalwood burst on the mid palate. The tannins are velvety, the texture is creamy, and the finish is clean and brisk. Reviewed April 16, 2006