2005 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough

One of the coldest November/December periods on record. Poor flowering and very low yields were a blow coming so soon after half of the 2003 crop had been lost to frost. Late January and early February brought several weeks of very hot, dry weather. Rain arrived in the third week of March, delaying picking and extending the season. Weather was reasonably settled during April for the main part of harvest. The vintage was marked by very small bunches and tiny berries, giving such a high skins:juice ratio that hand plunging became a challenging workout! The hotter than usual weather after Christmas resulted in a very dense, structured, muscular Pinot that has softened with time. GDD 1,120. Deepest ruby colour so far (not surprising since we are tasting old to young). That same smoky leathery aroma of the 2003. Dry and savoury and firm. Delicious restraint. Fine grained. Long and fresh. Elegant and just coming round now. (JH)

One of the coldest November/December periods on record. Poor flowering and very low yields were a blow, coming so soon after half of the 2003 crop was lost to a massive inversion frost. Late January and early February brought several weeks of very hot, dry weather. Rain arrived in the third week of March, delaying picking and extending the season. Weather was reasonably settled during April, ie the main part of harvest. The vintage was marked by very small bunches and tiny berries, giving such a high skins:juice ratio that hand plunging became a challenging workout! The hotter than usual weather after Christmas resulted in wines of great density. The Pinot is very structured and muscular, but will soften with time. Relative heat units 1113, yield 3 t/ha, extract 33 g/l, TA 5.5 g/l, pH 3.55 . Dark ruby. Hint of mushrooms and definite violets. Quite a charmer! Lovely spread across the palate now with bright fruit and lift and real polish. Dry but not drying finish. Lovely already. It's all there! Beginning, middle and end. Very vivacious. (JR)

Good full, deep red. Aromas of smoked meat, sassafras, mocha, coffee and earth, with some dark raspberry fruit emerging with aeration. Downright suave and silky in texture, with complex flavors of dark cherry, dried herbs and smoky underbrush, accented by a hint of celery seed. Lush, fine-grained pinot noir with very good stuffing. Finishes subtly smoky and long.