2005 Craggy Range Sophia Bordeaux Blend

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/new_zealand/13236.html

Category: New Zealand
Size: 750 ml
Brand: Craggy Range
Region: Hawkes Bay
Varietal: Merlot / Cabernet Franc
Style: Red Wine
Food Pairing: Grilled dry-aged rib-eye steak
Price: $54.99

2010 June Wine Club Premiere Selection

As it stands today, the Hawkes Bay wine region of New Zealand is known primarily for its Sauvignon Blanc, and to a lesser extent for its Viognier. And Craggy Range makes the former. But they, along with a few other ambitious neighboring producers, are confidently waging an uphill battle to make the Gimblett Gravels sub-appellation world-famous for Bordeaux blends. Now I say it's an uphill battle not because the wine they're making isn't stellar, but because it's rather difficult to shift public perception. However, they've determined that the terroir in this particular 800 hectare strip of land is unique for its gravelly soils, which were exposed after a massive flood in 1860 altered the course of the old Ngaruroro River. Gravelly soils have long been recognized as a key factor in producing great Bordeaux, particularly in the Merlot-dominated Right Bank, so it wasn't such a stretch for winemaker and Master of Wine Steve Smith to concentrate his efforts here. A blend of 62% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and just a 4% touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is hand-picked, de-stemmed, and aged for 19 months in French oak before achieving what Neal Martin of the Wine Advocate called "scents of red cherries, wild strawberry and (of course) gravel, and a full bodied palate ripe with layers of thick black fruits." The finish is still rather tight and backward in its youth; we'd suggest giving it a little time in the cellar if you can manage. 93 Points Wine Advocate.

Reviews

Neal Martin Wine Advocate 93 Points

The 2005 Sophia is a blend of 62% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, hand-picked, de-stemmed and aged for 19 months in French oak of which 80% is new. It displays a less ostentatious nose but has even better delineation with scents of red cherries, wild strawberry and gravel, the palate full-bodied and ripe with layers of thick black fruits on the backward finish. It needs serious cellaring.

http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/new_zealand/13236.html

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