Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Gris 2024

Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Gris

Region: Martinborough, New Zealand

Vintage: 2024

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Pinot Gris

ABV: 14%

A fuller style of Pinot Gris, originally influenced by the style of wines from Alsace and developed over the years into Ata Rangi's own, uniquely Martinborough style. Fragrant aromas of fresh pear, lychee and citrus blend with perfumed notes of rose, jasmine and citronella on the nose. The palate opens with spicy notes of nutmeg and ground ginger. It is a textural wine with balance, beautiful fresh acidity and a long, complex finish.

The Pinot Gris grapes come from the Lismore and Walnut Ridge vineyards, which achieve their optimum flavour profile towards the end of the growing season. As a result, the team harvests this varietal fairly late to obtain a wine closer to the richer style of Pinot Gris produced in Alsace, rather than the leaner, bone-dry style of Pinot Grigio common in much of northern Italy. The vines were planted in 1996.

Fruit was handpicked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was then transferred to large format barrels with minimal settling. Spontaneous indigenous yeast fermentation occurred and then the wine was aged on its lees for six months. No malolactic fermentation was allowed to take place.

Ata Rangi, meaning ‘dawn sky, new beginning’ in Te Reo Māori, is widely regarded to be among New Zealand’s finest and most sought-after Pinot Noir producers. Longtime winemaker Helen Masters, who joined Ata Rangi in 2003, has played a key role in building this reputation, with Rebecca Gibb MW (Vinous) commenting that she “nails it every year, whither the season”, making wines that “always manage to balance ripeness of fruit with a delicate hand”. In 2019, Helen was awarded New Zealand Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine, in recognition of her 16 years working at the estate.

https://atarangi.co.nz