2008 Craggy Range, Le Sol, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Critics reviews
Neal Martin - 31/10/2010
About this WINE
Craggy Range
Craggy Range began its life in 1993 when wife and daughter of Terry Peabody persuaded him to start a wine business, the rule being it must always stay in the family, passed down generation to generation. Terry travelled to France, America and Australia in search of a winery that encompassed the family’s interest in a clean, green way of life.
He settled on Gimblett Gravels in Hawke's Bay on the east coast of New Zealand, as this area had the perfect growing conditions for his favourite wines; the Bordeaux reds, particularly Syrah. Another was The Tuki Tuki valley, which had excellent soil for growing Chardonnay.
With help from noted Kiwi viticulturist and friend, Steve Smith, the business has grown substantially, and is the most technically advanced ever built in New Zealand. It is known for its uncompromising standards and precise craftsmanship.
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
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Description
Matured in 47% new French oak for 19 months, the 2008 Le Sol has a dense blackberry, black olive and blueberry nose with good definition and purity. The palate has good weight, plush but firm tannins with notes of blackberry, blueberry, tar and a dash of black pepper, leading to a grippy, tannic, soy-tinged finish. This will need 5-6 years bottle age but this Le Sol is showing more edginess than in previous vintages, which serves to enhance the intrigue. Drink 2013-2025.
Neal Martin - 31/10/2010
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