2021 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir

99 POINTS

Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

This is impeccably composed and seductively expressed, showing dark cherry, clove, thyme and cedar characters on the nose with a gorgeous floral overtone. The concentrated palate is plush yet poised and refined with fleshy texture and perfectly pitched tannins. The wine exhibits stunning depth with layers of delectable flavours and meticulously structured mouthfeel, leading to a totally captivating, sensual finish.

97 POINTS

James Suckling

Lively and vibrant red fruits of wild strawberries and red cherries followed by rose hips, ground spices and a touch of citrus zest. Medium-bodied, finely grained velvety tannins with a delightful acid backbone. Zesty and layered wine with beautiful balance and complexity. It’s already enjoyable but will age gracefully.

96 POINTS

Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous

The 2021 Pinot Noir definitely reflects the vintage. Its good color and abundance of gravelly tannins display the smaller berried, smaller vintage. Its bright fruit, intense concentration and plentiful acidity accompany primary red fruit flavor, with an impressive show of ample black tea leaf-like tannins. It's a wine for the long haul that draws out on the extended finish. To be released in 2024. Points: 95-97

96 POINTS

Emma Jenkins MW - Decanter

This is such a lovely, complete wine. A real medley of fruit, spice, florals and earthy/mineral notes on the nose, with an enticing top note of sweet hay; complex and layered, with touch of bunchy Campari spice. It’s pretty alluring just on the aromatics alone, but the palate is equally layered and delicious. Silky with good concentration, energy and finesse – this is super harmonious and calm. No edges but in no way overly polished. Yum! It’s very interesting to taste the Estate against the other two single vineyards (no McCrone in 2021, due to frost) which have such distinct personalities and get a glimpse of how everything pulls together in this wine. A class act. Organic and vegan.

95 POINTS

Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion

This wine is typically sourced from older vines under the care of Ata Rangi. It's a plush, rich and smooth release of Ata Rangi's famed pinot noir. Supple texture with a soft web of al dente tannins lending gentle shape. The perfume all dark cherry, cola, game meat, cardamom, crushed rock and wild herbs with dashes of clove and cedar. The flavour notes similarly set up, inky, gently palate-staining, the finish a bevy of crushed rock chew and pucker. The tannins quality and persistent. Very good.

95 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2021 Pinot Noir is vibrant on the nose and totally precise and focused. The acid spools right from the front of the palate and has a mobile, agile way about it. The season may have had its challenges, but the wine is effortless, natural and shapely. It's great. The 40% whole bunch here sits well within the red fruit and creates a capacious mid-palate, without an impact of stalky flavor. Superb. A real pleasure to drink. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

94 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Tasting the 2021 and 2022 side by side here. The 2021 is a darker and more assertive wine, the 2022 a little brighter and more fleet of foot, as it were. Dark cherry, a whole lot of exotic spice, almost curry-like, some damp earth, dried roses, red capsicum and dried herbs, some cedar oak here too. It’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated, orange peel and cherry, a sandstone grip to tannin, a wild herb and flower mouth-perfume, a sappy crunch to acidity, with some twiggy and gently smoky charcoal bitterness on a finish of excellent length. A bold and savoury wine, typical of Ata Rangi really, with a sort of quinine bite to close. Needs a few more years to calm down.