Craggy Range Aroha Pinot Noir 2019

Aroha, a term of endearment in the Māori language of New Zealand, carries the profound essence of love. In perfect alignment with its evocative namesake, Aroha is a labor of love, meticulously handcrafted from the union of two exceptional parcels of Pinot Noir, one of which is graced by the legendary Abel clone.

These grapes are nurtured on the slopes of an elevated terrace within the Te Muna Road vineyard, where an ancient, long-dry riverbed once wove its course. In its wake, it left behind soil teeming with the richness and nutrients ideal for the cultivation of Pinot Noir. This terroir, imbued with history and character, serves as the cradle of Aroha's distinct and captivating flavors.

Dark cherry and plum, dried roses, a little sweet spice and cedar, and that regional sort of tamarillo and scrub herb thing. It’s medium-bodied but quite dense, with a little pomegranate tang and chicory bitterness through dark fruit and ripe strawberry, a bit of a ‘mineral’ feel here too, along with well-packed cocoa powder tannin. The finish is long, sappy, and quite firm. A more nuanced wine than previous iterations, perhaps. Very good.