2005 Sophia

62% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. A fantastic red wine vintage throughout Hawke’s Bay and especially in the warm stony soils of the Gimblett Gravels area. Hand-harvested from seven year old vines. Water management is especially important so that the vines do not become too stressed in these very free draining soils. Average Brix levels at harvest of 24-25°. Fermented in specially built oak vessels for up to three weeks and then transferred to French oak barrels (80% new) for 19 months. Winemakers Steve Smith MW and Larry Cherubino. Bold, strong flavours, dark berry fruits. Good balance. Almost a tad chocolatey. Quite intense. (VD)

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. The precocious Craggy Range has rapidly become one of New Zealand’s premier wine producers. Established in 1997, it is the collaboration between businessman Terry Peabody and the winemaking expertise of quiet, retiring Steve Smith MW, who concentrates upon the Bordeaux-blend “Sophia” and the Sauvignon Blanc. Smith has employed the skills of Rob Easthope to focus upon Chardonnay and Syrah and Adrian Baker on Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. The state-of-the-art winery is modeled on futuristic architecture and is over-shadowed by the peaks that give rise to their name. The philosophy is firmly directed towards small production of single vineyard sites a la Burgundy. They purchased their own vineyard in the Te Muna sub-region of Martinborough where Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are cultivated, whilst fruit from the South Island is out-sourced. Their two flagship wines of “Sophia,” a Bordeaux blend and “Le Sol,” which is 100% Syrah. Recent vintages of these were tasted both at the winery and appeared in blind horizontal tasting where their quality shone through. Importer: Kobrand Corporation, Purchase, NY; tel. (914) 253-7700; Fax (914) 253-7910

From stonier bits of the vineyard. Partly organic. 62% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, little bit of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep crimson but weaker rim. Very winning and flattering – quite alive and pungent. Round. The Cabernet Franc really helps to give it fragrance and freshness. (JR)