ATA RANGI PINOT NOIR
"Chalk another notch in the belt because Ata Rangi [Pinot Noir 2008] is at the top of the tree again. Amid ever-increasing competition, its class and pedigree sails from the glass."
Nick Stock, Penguin Australia Good Wine Guide 2010 (see full review below in RH column)
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The pinot noir I have tasted from Ata Rangi and Dry River can stand alongside any of those found in Burgundy. They possess a ripe, plummy fruit character with an appealing savoury component that puts to shame many of the one-dimensional fruit bombs found elsewhere. Will Lyons, Scotland on Sunday 11 Oct 09
" New Zealand's greatest and most consistent Pinot." Nick Stock, Wine Business Monthly, WINE 100 July 09
"If I was ranking wineries from first to last, rather than alphabetically, Ata Rangi would still come out on top. The focus is inerringly on making the best wine possible. The king of the Ata Rangi stable is pinot noir and in ascending order of greatness, Ata Rangi's other outstanding wines include syrah, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc and Craighall Chardonnay."
Joelle Thomson on New Zealand's Top 10 Wineries
"This quiet, gentle, well respected winemaker has never sought the limelight, but every bottle of Ata Rangi Pinot Noir carries the stamp of Clive Paton's relentless quest for excellence"
Michael Cooper, Wine Atlas of New Zealand 2008
"Ata Rangi is easily the most consistent producer in Australasia, making complex, age-worthy wines."
Australian winewriter Tim White commenting on the Pinot Noir 2007 event held in Wellington, NZ Jan 07
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Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir 2008
Impeccable. Ata Rangi’s 2008 Pinot Noir would be a contender for the best Pinot Noir in New Zealand from the 2008 vintage. In a vintage that provides good quantities of beautifully ripened fruit, it takes extreme dedication and discipline to make the strictest of selection of fruit to go into a supreme label, and this is what Clive Paton and Helen Masters at Ata Rangi have done to create this outstanding wine. This was made predominantly from the oldest home blocks, with Abel clone nearing 30 years of age with some Pommard and Dijon clone, and a little 10/5 material for added complexity. 5-8 days pre-fermentation cold maceration, 5% whole bunch, indigenous yeast fermentation to a peak of 32°C and 12 months in 25% new oak, with bottling unfiltered. At 13.5% alc., this is an elegant, but extremely concentrated Pinot Noir of exquisite finesse and silky mouthfeel. Beautifully perfumed with ethereal florals and a core of red and dark fruits adding to the aromatic nature of this wine, there is no lack of substance. The tannin extraction is extremely refined, yet substantial. Aromas and flavours unfold in the glass and with each sip. The balance is nigh on perfect and allows immediate enjoyment, but make no mistake, this will age effortlessly and gracefully over the next 7-9 years. Raymond Chan, www.regionalwines.co.nz
Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir 2008
One of New Zealand's flagship pinot noirs, this hints of beeswax, smoky bacon and strawberry jam, with savoury undertones of coffee and dark chocolate from the toasty oak. It's a young wine with a lively finish, but the concentration, harmony and balance lift it above many of the others. Give it another few months or a year or so to develop its potential.
Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times, Jan 2010
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2007 - 97/100
New Zealand's greatest and most consistent Pinot. This smells rich and ripe with plenty of meaty complexity and glossy, dark, cherry fruit. Long, ripe, cherry-flavoured palate, brooding with impressive complexity and depth. Dark chocolate builds through the finish, with some baked game meats too. Very much a Grand Cru New Zealand Pinot Noir. Nick Stock,
Wine Biz Monthly, Wine 100 July 09
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2007
Exotically perfumed with the essence of black tea, damson plum, allspice and gamey gorgeousness. In the mouth there's an explosion of juicy cherry, bitter chocolate, chewy, succulent, nectarine-skin texture. Poised and powerful, and if I could give it 10 stars I would - best of all, it comes wrapped in sexy purple.
Yvonne-Marie Lorkin, Hawkes Bay Today Aug 09
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2007
If asked to name a single New Zealand vineyard that will impress everyone, from the fussiest wine drinker to the label conscious, Ata Rangi is the wine. Its track record is longer than most and its owners remain hands-on at their tiny Martinborough winery. This wine is hot off the bottling line, so needs decanting to put its best foot forward. Flavours of Damson plums, savoury spice and fresh red cherries. Joelle Thomson,
Herald on Sunday 21 Dec 08
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2007
The beauty of pinot noir surely can't be more typified than by Ata Rangi. Yes, released before their best on this side of the world, but with so much to give. Texturally brilliant, the best of fruit flavours from Martinborough don't need much encouragement but they do emerge and evolve over the three or four years after vintage. Truly fine wine, amongst New Zealand's best and greatest as older vineyards and winemaking experience merge.
Peter Saunders, Best of the Best Wine Guide 2008
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006 - 98 POINTS
2006 was an excellent vintage in Martinborough. This is probably the best Ata Rangi pinot that I've tasted. Intense, succulent, poised and with the Ata Rangi trademark silken texture. Kiwi Musigny.
Bob Campbell, Gourmet Traveller WINE Apr-May 2008
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006
I have had a crack at this particular wine twice now. The first out of big glasses (next to the 2006 PHI Pinot) at an informal tasting, and the second out of little glasses at an informal dinner. I know I am bad and should pay more attention, but no matter which way you slice the old tamarillo, this is outstanding wine that stands up and performs every time.
Aromas of dark cherry, spice, dark chocolate, violet and a tangy orange peel top note. A bit earthy, fruity and fragrant all in one. On the palate, smooth fine talc-like tannins and a lithe muscular frame with expansive and mouth-filling fruit. Plenty of flavour, but not clumsy or heavy. Dark cherry, berry, spice, undergrowth and tamarillo with a light and very attractive sarsaparilla character adding regional interest. Long and persistent (Are we finished yet? Are we finished yet?) I wasted no time buying a few bottles for the cellar. 95+ Points.
Gary Walsh, Winorama Nov 07
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006
Outstanding. A superb pinot noir in which the gorgeous dark cherry and raspberry aromas are given another dimension by subtle complex notes. The palate is long and intense, but very fine, and is complemented by high quality oak. Lester Jesberg, Winewise Dec 07
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2005
Aromas of sweet cherry, lots of spice, the perfume of various herbs and flowers like rose and rosemary, stalks, a little earth and a wisp of smoke. Fruity but evenly tempered by the sappy herbal notes. It smells typically NZ. On the palate medium bodied with cherry, weak cola, tamarillo, some earthiness, stalks and spice. Firm fine lightly sappy tannins and crisp acidity. This is straight backed and quite refined but with good texture and mouthfeel. Finishes long with some lightly bitter (but refreshing) tamarillo flavours. A challenging and thought provoking wine. Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : Jun07 Gary Walsh winorama.com.au
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2004 : 18 points
This Martinborough Pinot is among the best produced in New Zealand. The 2003 was stunning. This vintage is still first rate. Intense redcurrant, dark-cherry flavours and a hint of tobacco; a silky lingering finish.
Peter Forrestal Sunday Times Magazine 14 May 2006
Top 20 Drops of the Year: Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2003 With its yields cut to less than 15 hectolitres per hectare by frosts in the spring of 2002, Ata Rangi - which I have long regarded as the southern hemisphere's pre-eminent pinot noir producer - has made a wine that is truly great. Deeply coloured, this exuberant, opulent, yet supremely complex and balanced pinot noir has aromas of dark fruits together with some oriental spice and cedar from perfectly handled oak (only 25% of which was new). The palate is equally concentrated and sumptuous and, while approachable now - the tannins are supple and persistent - this will develop into something special with five more years in the cellar.
Philip Rich, Aust Financial Review Nov 2005
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2003 - 97 points
The 2003 lives up to the elevated reputation Clive Paton and wife Phyll have set themselves - it's perhaps their best wine yet and the star of the [Mornington Pinot Noir Celebration] show. It has an intense mocha and dark cherry bouquet and a sumptuous palate. It's not big, bold or overoaked, just has masses of lush, plush, sweet pinot fruit. The complex texture reflects the use of indigenous yeasts, and its finale is long and lingering, driven all the way by a nervy, bright acidity.
Peter Bourne, Gourmet Traveller Wine June 2005
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2003 - 90 points
Worth decanting if you open a bottle now, as this wine really blossoms in the glass, opening to reveal floral, rose-petal notes. Mouthfeel is big, but buttered by soft tannins and cherry, cola and herb flavours."
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Enthusiast Dec 2005
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2003 - 96 points
"Something Truly Special" The essence of fragrant, concentrated pinot. Lovely sharp, sappy characters, plus a subtle undertow of fine oak and chocolate. The best Australasian pinot noir I've tasted over the past 12 months.
Tim White, Aust Financial Review, 19 Feb 2005
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2003
While may other New Zealand winemakers - particularly in Central Otago - have headed towards dark-coloured, robust pinot, this top Martinborough producer has stuck successfully to a more ethereal style. The Ata Rangi is simply entrancing wine, with spicy red berry fruit and persistent silky tannin.
Max Allen, The Australian Date 19 Feb 2005
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2003 - 95 points
It’s a picturesque, winding, hour-long journey over a rugged mountain pass north east of Wellington to find the river terrace of Martinborough. Pinot Noir from this compact area was all the rage a short while ago; Martinborough was mid-stride when Central Otago burst onto the scene, stole the limelight and to some extent continues to do so. Through this time, the quality of many of Martinborough’s premier league producers reached a plateau – but Ata Rangi has consistently improved and refined its wines. This 2003 pinot is simply the best Ata Rangi ever released and a must-have for any pinot lover. Bursting with precise dark cherry fruit, spice, fragrance and perfume, you can sit nose-in-glass for hours over this one. It’s engaging, complex and concentrated modern pinot. The palate is beautifully crafted, with juicy, ripe, supple fruit right the way through. Tannins are soft and well judged. Everything sits neatly in place and there’s enough flavour here for two wines. Great to see such outstanding quality from a vintage in which many struggled to reach such heights. Opulent and deeply structured, this is a stunning effort. Drink it from now to 2010.
Nick Stock, The Adelaide Review, Jan 2005
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2003
While still in oak at the time of tasting, the 2003 could take Ata Rangi to a hitherto unimagined level of quality. The problem, however, is that there's hardly any of it, since spring frosts knocked back yields to less than a tonne per acre. It's astonishingly perfumed and fragrant, while there's already a musky, slightly pungent animal note beneath its deep, plush layers of cherry, plum and raspberry flavours. Creamy and sappy, it culminates in a long, tight-knit finish of fine tannins. The wine should rate well above 18.5, and I'm obviously very keen to see a finished bottle!
Jeremy Oliver, Wine on Line Report, Jan 2004
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002
A recent tasting of 10 vintages of Ata Rangi proved that winemaker Clive Paton is the current King of New Zealand Pinot. The dense, action-packed bouquet is dark cherry, ripe plums and sweet spices, with a hint of toasty oak. The equally potent palate reflects the nose. The finish is long and tightly structured. Cellar for 5 years or more.
Peter Bourne, Australian Gourmet Traveller, Jan 2004
"The 20 best tipples from the country's top wineries"
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002 Without doubt, New Zealand's top pinot noir, not least because of its consistent, tart, black cherry tastes and evolving body and depth.
Joelle Thomson, NZ Herald, 11 Feb 04
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002
This temptress from one of the country's most talked about producers is sexier than satin bedsheets - a lovely fragrant Martinborough Pinot Noir with multi-layered flavours and advanced complexity which makes it more approachable than usual at this age. Stunning.
Warren Barton, Dom Post Wine Guide Dec 2003
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002
Alongside its peers, this stood out for its complexity, its supple texture and fine finish. 19 points
Paul Tudor, Christchurch Mail Oct 2003
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002
Undoubtedly the best of the 2002s from Martinborough. A little lighter than the 2000 and 2001, this has wonderfully classic Ata Rangi style with perfect structure and extraction. Beautifully crafted. It would be a crime if you didn't have some of this.....
Raymond Chan, Regional Wines Wellington Nov 2003
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir is our finest pinot for sheer consistency and this is another triumph.
Charles Gill, Daily News New Plymouth Dec 2003
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001 is from one of the best wineries in the country. It has a depth of colour and a penetrating dark fruit flavour. The palate is full and complex, with ever expanding nuances of flavour that fascinate. If time and sobriety permit, perhaps the only follow-up to the Ata Rangi Pinot is - another bottle of the same, of course.
Maggie Beale, Hong Kong Press 10 Sep 04
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001 ***** 5 stars.
New Zealand hit the world wine stage with a vengeance when the international marketplace first took notice of its sauvignon blanc. Now NZ Pinot Noir has people talking. The Shaky Isles show promise with this fickle red grape but standards vary greatly. Some regions are better than others, and the finest wines can be as expensive as some passable French burgundies. The pricey Ata Rangi, from the Martinborough district, is a classy example. The youthful 2001 needs air to be at its best. It has sappy, earthy, cherry and rhubarb scents with notes of undergrowthy mystery. The palate is long, fine, fragrant and silky with light firmness at the end. Ideally another 2 to 5 years to be at its best.
Ralph Kyte Powell The Age (Melbourne) 27 May 03
'The red grape that sends wine folk into paroxysms of joy is, of course, the siren that is pinot noir - it's capable of soaring to magnificent heights in the bottle but is a terribly difficult so and so in the vineyard. Pinot can so easily be a little too much of this and a little too little of that. Pinot noir is often the seductress that tempts you, only to let you down. However, find a good one and the world becomes a better place. Last year I opened a bottle of 2001 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir from New Zealand and it was so beautiful, so delicious, that I began to sing. Then I did a jig. Seriously. It had layer upon layer of flavour and was neither too heavy nor too light.'
Stuart Gregor, Australian Good Taste Apr 03
The rich, tantalisingly complex Ata Rangi from Martinborough is fast joining Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc as an iconic New Zealand wine.
Andrew Catchpole, UK Telegraph Weekend, 21 Sep 02
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001.
Wines like this lead wine-lovers down a slippery slope which is almost impossible to climb back up. It is yet another stand-out pinot noir from one of the country's top wineries. This wine vies for your attention in a subtle but fantastically silky fashion, with hints of spice, plums and a juicy texture all adding appeal. To get the best out of this wine it needs to be cellared for a year or two, but if you plan to drink it now, open and decant into large glasses a few hours before you plan to drink it.
Joelle Thomson, NZ Herald 16 Oct 02
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001 - ***** 5 stars
- is a relatively forward vintage of the classic Martinborough red. Densely packed with cherry, plum and spice flavours, it is already strikingly savoury, complex and harmonious.
Michael Cooper, Sunday Star Times 13 Oct 02
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001:
Martinborough had a head start on Central Otago and this pinot noir has become almost legendary. Certainly it has been one of the most consistent New Zealand Pinot noirs for more than a decade. With concentrated fruit hinting of cherries, black plums, spice and licorice, and a bright, lifted finish, this is a harmonious wine. It is the beautifully balanced tension and structure, rather than the lushness of the fruit that makes this so delicious.'
Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times 2 Oct 02
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001.
OK, so it is pricey, but so are fine Burgundies. This stunning wine with velvet-smooth tannins is packed with plums, cherries and even a hint of chocolate. The fruit flavours are dominant at present, with savoury characters expected to evolve with time.'
Pippa MacKay, Chch Press 22 Aug 02
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Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir 2008, 97/100
Complete and comforting from the very outset, Ata Rangi has delivered another benchmark pinot noir full of all the gently woven complexity and allure that sets the variety apart from most others. Like a tiny piece of Vosne-Romanee came to Martinborough; light, fragrant notes, fresh rose petals, a dusting of sweet spices and super-pure cherry fruits waft around the glass in regal formation. The palate is deliciously capricious at this young stage, for the first impression is of lightness and sheer elegance; it falls on the palate with feather-like impact then builds and builds and builds. It layers fine pastry-like sheets of tannin and arrives at a fine crescendo of flavour and pure pinot noir, leaving a comet-like trail in its wake. This is impeccably crafted; fine, powerful and truly worthy of Grand Cru status.
Nick Stock, Penguin Australia Good Wine Guide 2010
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2008
Surely this wine has the best track record of any Southern Hemisphere pinot noir. Vintage after vintage Ata Rangi delivers the goods. This release is an intense but elegant pinot which shows perfumed dark cherry and rose petal aromas. The palate is long, fine and silky in the manner of a good Burgundy, but this wine is a style all of its own. Cellar 5-10 years.
WineWise, Lester Jesberg, Dec 09
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2007 and Ata Rangi Crimson 2008 were both listed in the June 09 Decanter Magazine article entitled "TOP 50 New World Pinot Noirs" by Matthew Jukes. He writes: Pinot Noir 2007
The standard bearer for Martinborough and still the finest Pinot of its style, this is a wine that has so much complexity that you must treat it with the respect it commands. A modern-age trail-blazer."
The rating was 19/20 which made it the highest scoring NZ Pinot Noir in the feature, and second highest rating of all 50 Top New World Pinots.
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2007
Lovely fragrance filled with ripe berries, dried herbs and floral highlights, full and lifted. Impressive fruit power on the palate which is still showing its extreme youth and demanding more bottle age. Buckets of fruit hold plenty of promise for the future, with well harmonised acid, gently drying tannins and incredible length.
Sam Kim, Grill Magazine, Sep 09
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2007
5 stars. From one of the country's leading pinot producers, this is powerful but poised, sumptuous and succulent, complex and concentrated with brooding dark fruit, hints of French polish, spice, and a lively, long complex finish.
Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006
This was a lovely wine, with a sexy, round mouthfeel and a long juicy finish that resolved into polished tannins. Shows a distinctively Martinborough smoky tea leaf note, with a touch of menthol on top of its dark berry fruit and some earthy depth. Top quality NZ Pinot Noir. Ray Isle, USA F&W Blog, Tasting Room
Senior Wine Editor Feb 09
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006
To reveal my intentions: I’m more of a Martinborough man than a Central Otago man, though increasingly I love both. Ata Rangi is the king of Martinborough, and 2006 is a stunning example of its power. This wine is supple, arrestingly long, bold in its blue fruit character, and yet savoury, spicy, and sappy too. The colour is a brilliant dark purple crimson, and the finish of it an intricate arrangement of minerals and tannins. Shape wise, it pulls long, rather than balling through the mid-palate. It’s a new world pinot noir for the new world to be proud of. Drink: 2012-2020. 97 points.
Campbell Mattinson, www.winefront.com.au
The outstanding 2006 Ata Rangi McCrone Block Pinot Noir (94 points) is a made in association with Oregon winemakers Don and Carol McCrone who purchased a vineyard contiguous with Ata Rangi's. This is their first vintage which was bottled in July 2007. A stunning debut with ripe crisp raspberry leaf and cranberry fruit on the nose with an essence of minerality underneath, the palate is medium-bodied, almost perfectly balanced with a delicate, feminine, mulberry-tinged finish that belies its power. Quantities are very limited and I believe the wine will be available by mail order only.
Neal Martin, e-RobertParker.com April 2008
The 2006 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir (tasted twice) includes fruit from some of the 27-year-old home block vines and was matured for 12 months using 25% new oak. It displays a vibrant, slightly leafy nose with cranberry and a touch of forest floor, the palate -economical- i.e. no frills, but clean, crisp, vibrant fruit; brilliant focus with supreme poise on the finish. It gains intensity in the glass, a mercurial Pinot Noir as compelling as many a top Burgundy.
Neal Martin, e-RobertParker.com April 2008
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006
Ata Rangi has the runs on the board, and this top-notch pinot noir reflects vine age and decades of experience. Vibrant cherry aromas and flavours are perfectly matched with high quality French Oak. The palate has a firm but fine structure, demanding at least a couple of years' cellaring.
Lester Jesberg, Winewise, Feb 08
AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
TOP 20 WINES OF THE YEAR
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2005
With the oldest vines now 26 years old, my favourite New Zealand pinot maker has produced a sumptuous and powerful wine that is going to require time for all the components to come together. Densely coloured, this is loaded with dark plum and cherry fruit and a little spice, while the deftly handled oak (usually around 25%) plays a supporting role. The palate is equally dense and concentrated, with supple yet extremely persistent tannins running through the wine ensuring it has the requisite structure to improve for at least ten years.
Philip Rich, Aust Financial Review Dec 2006
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2004
New Zealand’s greatest Pinot winery has made another cracker. Sweet plum, cherry, blackberry aromas laced with toast and vanilla from oak. Sap and cherry pip nuances. Fleshy, fruit sweet, concentrated palate with terrific weight, density, extract and great elegance.
Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 Feb 2006
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2003
Ten years ago Ata Rangi took over from Martinborough Vineyards the role of being the image creator for New Zealand's wonderful pinot noir. Central Otago has grabbed the buzz since 2000, especially after their internationally hyped and marvellous 2002 vintage. Despite this, the Ata Rangi 2003, from a slightly less heralded vintage in Martinborough, is receving reviews that even eclipse the plaudits given to the Central Otago 2002 releases. The 2003 Ata Rangi Pinot is an extraordinary pinot noir and is the greatest of the Australasian pinot noirs to date. Grab a bottle - even if it's for your wine club - as this wine has just raised the bar significantly for this variety.
John Jens, Perth WS Weekly 8 March 2005
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2003 - 93 points
You have to wait for this, but don't miss it! Bad weather at flowering meant very low yields, and that shines through. Clive describes this as quite a 'Burgundian season', ie warm summer and cool autumn, but with sweet, ripe, sexy, damson fruit. Firm tannins and good, savoury length. This should hold up well for several years. Drink 2006-2009.
Charles Metcalfe, Wine International Sep 04
2003 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir ..(included in a Domaine D'Ardhuy dinner held at Tabla in New York in March 07) Approached with some trepidation, as my NZ Pinot experiences have left me underwhelmed. This is not one of those experiences. Very fresh nose, earthy side and a licorice hit on this one. The tongue gets delicious, fresh cranberry. Very pretty stuff, I like very much the cool fruit. A revelation for NZ pinot for me, it's consistent and lovely wine. Mark Squires Bulletin Board - e-robertparker.com
If price is no object, look no further than Ata Rangi.
Tightly structured, wonderfully textured, complex and built to last, the 2001 and 2002 vintages are among the best pinot noirs to come out of this country. Watch out for the 2003 vintage which promises to be as rare as it is delicious.
Don Higgins, NZ House & Garden Aug 2004
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002 - ***** 5 stars
The real McCoy. The type of wine that all our winemakers should aspire to make. A Kiwi icon and deservedly so. From the 100-plus new vintage pinots I've tried so far, it's clearly the best. Complex, perfumed, structured. Seriously good. $60.
Stephen Bennett, North & South Nov 2003
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002 - 91 points
The wine has the fruitiness of a blue-foot mushroom, a dark and savory character to balance the clean line of black cherry flavour running through it. Spice tracks that cherry fruit, a third rail to electrify the woodsy earthiness of the wine. The flavours are long, attesting to Martinborough's talents with Pinot Noir.
Wine & Spirits, Feb 2005
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002 - 94 points
If you want to splurge, try this one. New Zealand is becoming well known for its pinot noir. This is one of the best examples yet: ripe cherries and lots of body but not dense and over-extracted. Maximum power without maximum weight: like a well-engineered backpack. It has a haunting, eternal finish.
Natalie McLean website, Canada, Aug 2004
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002
A little less rich and full than the 2001, the latest edition of this benchmark NZ pinot is a superfine wine that improves with every sip. The nose has cherry and spice, touched by herbal undergrowth mystery and classy oak. It tastes fresh, silky and intense with long and aromatic flavours, good structure and light tannin. Drink over 5 years.
Ralph Kyte-Powell, Epicure Uncorked 3 Feb 04
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002
A steep asking price, but you are purchasing a pinot from Martinborough, the southern hemisphere's most renowned pinot region. For the money, you get a red with a really sensual texture and bountiful, ever-changing aromas. As you should.
Greg Duncan-Powell, Sydney Morning Herald 24 Jan 2004
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002 Wine of the Year.
What can I say? Wow! This is perhaps the best 2002 pinot I have tasted all year. Deep ruby red with a gemmy glow. Totally enthralling and inviting aromas of smoky spiced berries and cherries with a slightly herbal savoury edge. Fruity to the taste with divine roast cherry and cracked berry flavours, a little earth, a touch of herb and creamy smoky oak binding it together with a gorgeous silky smooth texture that flows across the palate to culminate in a slightly tart finish warmed by the alcohol. Compared to something like a Shiraz, this is a medium weight wine that was just perfect for the food (turkey with roasted red cherries, and lamb) and the time of day.
Sue Courtney, www.wineoftheweek.com Dec 2003
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002
Deliciously crafted wine - as always, the standard by which other New Zealand Pinot Noir is judged. Awash in cherry and classy oak aromas with a whiff of viscera that is especially intriguing, the wine has a taste that is all satin texture, fruit and gentle persuasion. Elegance, wit and delicacy personified.
Keith Stewart, Listener 31 Jan 2004
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2002
It always seems like vinfanticide to taste, let along rate or write about, a wine as fresh and young as this. Yet one of the best things about Ata Rangi pinot noir is that it is deliciously approachable when young, with an almost feral aroma and taste adding to that vibrant black cherry flavour that defines great Martinborough pinot noir. Love its intense purity of style, voluptuous curvy weight and flavours that linger.
Joelle Thomson, NZ Herald Viva, 26 Nov 2003
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001 - 94/100
Full red purple; in the mainstream Ata Rangi style very rich, deep and full, with an array of complex, ripe spice and plum aromas and flavours; a long, powerful palate which takes no prisoners.
James Halliday, www.winepros.com.au11 Feb 2003
'Ata Rangi Pinot noir ranks among New Zealand's most illustrious reds, with an international reputation for its outstanding complexity and richness.'
Michael Cooper, Sunday Star Times 13 Jul 03
93 points - Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001.
This Pinot grown in Martinborough picks up on New Zealand's Middle Earth tones, the enchanted forest scents of Tolkien's hobbit shire. Its broad, clean red fruit is edged with persimmon and meaty spice, the wine solidly built, firmly grounded with a lithe acidity. Beautifully grown, this is cellar-worthy pinot.
Steve Tanzer, US Wine and Spirits Apr 03
'Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001 - ***** 5 stars.
Svelte and complex with aromas of stewed cherries and alluring smoky/spicy notes with fine texture and firm tannins reminiscent of top quality Burgundy. Built to age.'
Stephen Bennett, North & South Oct 02
'I certainly enjoyed some fine Pinot Noirs in Martinborough ... but if I could only bring one bottle home it would be the exotic beauty from Ata Rangi. None could match its wild cherry and spice aromas, vibrant cherry fruits and long, rich finish.'
Charles Gill, Daily News New Plymouth 29 Oct 2002
91/100 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2000
Bright jazzy style rings with currant and berry flavours which echo through the lively finish. Drink now to 2006.
Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator USA May 02
'One of the greatest of all New Zealand wines, this stunning Martinborough red is powerfully built and concentrated, yet seductively fragrant and supple.'
Michael Cooper on Ata Rangi Pinot Noir - The 2002 Buyer's Guide to NZ Wines
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 1999/2000.
More concentrated and darker than most Pinot Noir (including French Burgundies) this is a seductive wine, balancing power with fragrant notes of raspberries and violets. Pinot Noir works better with beef than the Cabernet grape. The underlying force of this wine will blend with the strong flavours of the food.
Koh Boon Pin, Sunday Times, Singapore, 29 Sept 02
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2000 ***** 5 stars
An outstanding Pinot Noir from a winery that consistently delivers top wine. Rich, plummy and very dense wine with a velvet texture. A true thoroughbred with real cellaring potential.
Bob Campbell, Cuisine Dec 01
NZ [winemakers] do make some of the world's best Pinot Noir'..In fact, my favourite red wine for the whole of 2001 was Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2000 from Martinborough. It was about A$60 per bottle but its complexity, sheer varietal intensity and length on the palate stood it head and shoulders above any Pinot I have tasted from Australia.
Stuart Gregor, Australian Good Taste Mar 02
IF YOUR PARTNER WAS A WINE
Australian Winemaker of the Year 2001 Jeff Grosset: 'Stephanie would be Krug, or perhaps Ata Rangi Pinot Noir, depending on her mood. Neither should be underestimated'
Uncorked Mar 02
'Widely regarded as New Zealand's top Pinot Noir producer, Ata Rangi's wines have a depth and concentration that few can match.'
Tim Atkin, Observer Magazine UK 25 Feb 01
BEST NEW RELEASE .. Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2001
Ata Rangi means 'new beginning' and there's no doubt this wine heralded one of the most exciting eras in New Zealand winemaking when it was first produced more than a decade ago. Now that the vines are gaining age and the winemakers are gaining experience, each vintage is better than the last. This wine is extremely young and needs time to open up. Either cellar it for a couple of years or decant it a few hours before drinking. Its flavours are pure Pinot Noir in a big, ripe, black plum tasting style. It has brilliant length but it is the silky smooth texture that keeps drawing me back in.
Joelle Thomson, Home & Entertaining Feb 03
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2000:
Supremely stylish, with fine ripeness and substance but also impressive delicacy and delineation of flavors. Great now and likely to improve for another five years.
Michael Franz, Washington Post Nov 02
'Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2000 from Martinborough is arguably the best Pinot in New Zealand'
Huon Hooke, Sydney Herald 3 Dec 01
'A Martinborough region pioneer, Ata Rangi continues to produce some of New Zealand's and the New World's finest pinot noirs, and the 2000 is no exception. Ripe and poised, with some wild strawberry and raspberry fruit and well-integrated oak, this balanced, complex wine is just beginning to hint at the sous-bois (undergrowth) characters it will undoubtedly develop over the next few years. On the palate it is both concentrated and elegant - the hallmark of great pinot - with ripe, fine tannins and a very long finish. One of my very favourite wines of 2001.'
Philip Rich, Aust Financial Review Dec 01
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