WTN: 2005 Craggy Range Le Sol Gimblett Gravels

One of our Christmas day wines.
Very concentrated and ripe but shows beautiful balance. Dark and red fruits with hints of licorich,lavender and white pepper. Elegant with a persistant finish, this was one of the most food friendly wines I've had in a long while. I purchased a couple of these for a song several years ago and opened this bottle in 2008 where I found it all thumbs and recorked. Opening this Christmas day and decanting for 1 hour, this wine showed very well and was one of the hits of the day.

Drew

opened this bottle in 2008 where I found it all thumbs and recorked. Opening this Christmas day and decanting for 1 hour, this wine showed very well and was one of the hits of the day

Recorked with a machine or by just jamming the cork back in? If the latter, very impressive.

opened this bottle in 2008 where I found it all thumbs and recorked. Opening this Christmas day and decanting for 1 hour, this wine showed very well and was one of the hits of the day

Recorked with a machine or by just jamming the cork back in? If the latter, very impressive.

LOL, I'd rather describe it as very spirited repositioning of the cork for future enjoyment....When I opened the wine two years ago, I sampled a thimble full and it really was not drinkable, but a tough and tannic beast. When I remove corks I don't pierce them through and have, over many years, re-corked some for various periods of extended aging. I've always had good results. It's sorta like taking a barrel sample only using a straw.

Drew

[Jenise]

opened this bottle in 2008 where I found it all thumbs and recorked. Opening this Christmas day and decanting for 1 hour, this wine showed very well and was one of the hits of the day

Recorked with a machine or by just jamming the cork back in? If the latter, very impressive.

LOL, I'd rather describe it as very spirited repositioning of the cork for future enjoyment....When I opened the wine two years ago, I sampled a thimble full and it really was not drinkable, but a tough and tannic beast. When I remove corks I don't pierce them through and have, over many years, re-corked some for various periods of extended aging. I've always had good results. It's sorta like taking a barrel sample only using a straw.

Drew

I'm impressed too. So you use an Ah So to remove the cork if you suspect you might wish to replace it? Never ever dawned on me to do something like that. Btw, when I see "Gimblett Gravels" I think syrah, but your description of the wine doesn't make me certain which grape you're talking about with this wine. It was a....?

Yes, syrah Jenise. I bought the bottles years ago on recommendation from a wine store owner. I'd never heard of the winery when I purchased. Very northern Rhonish in style. Cool climate but very fresh on the palate. It's the vibrant freshness that impressed me and made it so different from other syrah. I wish I had known about the wine, both first hand and general knowledge, but only bought several @ $26 per...would have backed up the truck had I known.

Drew

[Jenise]

Yes, syrah Jenise. I bought the bottles years ago on recommendation from a wine store owner. I'd never heard of the winery when I purchased. Very northern Rhonish in style. Cool climate but very fresh on the palate. It's the vibrant freshness that impressed me and made it so different from other syrah. I wish I had known about the wine, both first hand and general knowledge, but only bought several @ $26 per...would have backed up the truck had I known.

Drew

Maybe there's some still around. I just picked up half a case of Craggy Range's 06 bordeaux style blend--for $16 each. In spite of Parker's adulation--he called Craggy Range the best overall producer in New Zealand--the glut has made it hard to move these wines. NZ possibly suffers from the downtown in Australian sales, too.

Wow - great prices on the Craggy Ranges. Didn't realize the wines are being discounted like that, I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for some of them.

I like Craggy Range a lot, though the last bottle I opened (the '02) was aggressively woody and alcohol.

Craggy Range is definitely one of the top producers in NZ, and their neighbour Te Mata is not far behind. The Le Sol is probably Craggy Range's most famous wine, and getting it for $26 is an absolute steal - well done!

Jenise, which wine did you get - the Quarry, Sophia or Te Kanu? They are all Bordeaux blends. If you got one of the first two, you got an amazing deal. The Sophia is usually my favourite of their premium wines, although Le Sol can be great too.

NZ is mainly known for its sauvignon blancs and its pinot noir, but their Bordeaux blends from the Gimlett Gravels region of Hawkes Bay have always been my favourite NZ wines. The syrah from the same region is getting better and better too. But the lack of media creates a lack of knowledge and interest in these wines, which is both a good (low prices) and bad (hard to find) thing.

So you use an Ah So to remove the cork if you suspect you might wish to replace it? Never ever dawned on me to do something like that.

Hence 'Butlers' Friend'.

The butler could sample the wine cellar for his own table and replace with plonk

I remember the first time I tasted Craggy Range at a southern hemisphere trade tasting. They were pouring 2004 Te Kahu which the retail was $26. This was about 4 years ago. I was very impressed at that price. They then decided that they would lower the price and I could then sell it for $17. I think it stacks up very well against many of the other blends out there. The other great deal I have tasted from Waiheke Island is Man-O-War Merlot-malbec-cab franc at $14. Both of these wines seem to have more complexity and layers.

[Jenise]

Hey, sports fans. Not the same wine as the title, but a good price for a Craggy Range syrah nonetheless, this offer from Blicker Pierce Wines in Napa just hit my mailbox:


Dear Oenophile,

HUGE. I'm talking HUGE like this, huge. Sean Harvey took this photo for National Geographic of a supercell tornado. AWESOME stuff, no?

Today we are working on one last awesome cellar for the year (check your inbox tomorrow!), but in the meantime, last night I popped a bottle of the Craggy Range New Zealand Syrah and HUGE/AWESOME/HOLY-MOLY was all I could think. A powerhouse. INTENSE. AND CHEAP! Clearly, you've got to be in the mood for something massive like this, and this DELIVERS, no doubt. This wine originally sold in the $50 range, but we picked up a screaming deal and can offer it at an incredibly modest $32, and we are the only store in America even selling this little gem. Massive syrah, with tons of flowery, violet-y, peppery fruit, unctuous, rich weight and a long spicy, meaty finish. A 94 from Parker's Wine Advocate to boot!

2007 Craggy Range Block 14 Syrah $32! WA94 only 6 cases left!

WA94: "The 2007 Syrah Block 14 is “killer” for want of a better expression. Though quite closed on the nose, it is very pure with blackberry, black pepper, minerals and a touch of smoke. The palate is just bloody gorgeous: firm but juicy tannins, superb acidity, harmonious and utterly pure, notes of blueberry and cassis with mouth-coating tannins on the finish. Quality winemaking here with a sense of “controlled” hedonism. Wonderful. Drink over the next 12 years."

I don't think I'm big or bad enough to drink that wine......I might get hurt!

[Jenise]

I don't think I'm big or bad enough to drink that wine......I might get hurt!

I hear you. Notice I did not place an order myself.