2022 Aroha

Fans of Aroha, Craggy Range's Pinot Noir off the Muna Road Vineyard in Martinborough, often get a sumptuous, seductive offering. The 2022 version is a little lighter in style. It still captures the delicate fragrance of red cherries alongside wild herbs with a lick of vanillin, but it's much more fragile in its structure and frame than it has been in previous years due to the wet summer. Tannins are delicate and soft, and this will certainly be an earlier drinker than most Arohas.

Fragrant and finessed, with bay leaf, cranberry, crushed raspberries, tobacco and waves of soft incense and gunsmoke. Gathers in strength over the palate, and the tannic arcitecture will clearly sustain ageing but it's finely spun enough to go young if you prefer. Gorgeous vineyard in Martinborough, natural yeast fermentation, unfined with light filtration. 35% new oak for ageing, barely perceptible even now, save for a remembrance of sweet charred cherry on the finish. Director David T Peabody, chief winemaker Julian Grounds.