Rugby, wine and fireworks
Claudine Earley
CLIVE Paton once scored a try against the Lions. That was a while ago. Now he’s better known as founder of Ata Rangi, one of Martinborough’s leading wine producers.
Ata Rangi has had an exciting year. To begin with, its Pinot Noir was awarded the inaugural Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa (“Great Growth of New Zealand”) honour, akin to the French “Grand Cru status”. Felton Road’s Block 5 Pinot Noir was the only other wine to share the accolade.
Ata Rangi has also had a few surprises along the way, not least when its young Labrador Rata Rangi gave birth to a wee black puppy, sired by Escarpment’s old bounder Milo McKenna.
We attended Ata Rangi’s spring release tasting on Guy Fawkes. It’s one of my favourite annual release dos, since Ata Rangi like to host the tasting at Academy Galleries (next to the gates to Queen’s Wharf), so their guests get to sample not only fine wine, but art exhibitions too. This year we wandered around sipping and admiring the Deco Echo exhibition, celebrating a hundred years of Art Deco.
As an added bonus, the spring release tasting usually coincides with Guy Fawkes, making it the perfect beginning to an evening of food, wine and fireworks. Pity the weather made me a bit grumpy this year.
Ata Rangi’s reds were my Roman Candle. Their Pinot Noir 2009 ($65) is always impressive. The latest vintage is notable for its complexity, its nose a complimentary mix of cherries, strawberries and savouriness. Its palate is darker than the nose suggests, with pure dark fruit plus fine tannins. Make mine a magnum ($160)!
Ata Rangi Celebre 2008 ($32) is different every year, depending on the ratio of grapes added to the blend. This year it’s one-third merlot, syrah and cab sav/cab franc. After the restrained elegance of the pinot, my nose was blown away by Celebre’s big bold blackcurrants seasoned with black pepper with a side of mushrooms. The currants became red in the mouth, with a liberal sprinkling of smoked paprika. Have it with cheese for a second wave of flavours.
Wine of the week: well known for their pinot noir, Julicher Estate Riesling 2008 ($19.95) is now stamping its mark, last week winning a gold at the Air NZ Wine Awards. We tried the wine last Thursday, an unseasonably warm evening. Straight out of the fridge, the mineral/kerosene and lime aroma show strongly, then the riesling warms up to release its sweeter stone fruit and citrus characters, with funky honey undercurrents. As a result of the Te Muna Road (Martinborough) region’s long ripening season, Julicher’s Finnish winemaker Outi Javovirta, has the ripest grapes from which to craft her wine. Recommended.
For all ANZWA medal winners, see www.wineshow.co.nz.
Ata Rangi has had an exciting year. To begin with, its Pinot Noir was awarded the inaugural Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa (“Great Growth of New Zealand”) honour, akin to the French “Grand Cru status”. Felton Road’s Block 5 Pinot Noir was the only other wine to share the accolade.
Ata Rangi has also had a few surprises along the way, not least when its young Labrador Rata Rangi gave birth to a wee black puppy, sired by Escarpment’s old bounder Milo McKenna.
We attended Ata Rangi’s spring release tasting on Guy Fawkes. It’s one of my favourite annual release dos, since Ata Rangi like to host the tasting at Academy Galleries (next to the gates to Queen’s Wharf), so their guests get to sample not only fine wine, but art exhibitions too. This year we wandered around sipping and admiring the Deco Echo exhibition, celebrating a hundred years of Art Deco.
As an added bonus, the spring release tasting usually coincides with Guy Fawkes, making it the perfect beginning to an evening of food, wine and fireworks. Pity the weather made me a bit grumpy this year.
Ata Rangi’s reds were my Roman Candle. Their Pinot Noir 2009 ($65) is always impressive. The latest vintage is notable for its complexity, its nose a complimentary mix of cherries, strawberries and savouriness. Its palate is darker than the nose suggests, with pure dark fruit plus fine tannins. Make mine a magnum ($160)!
Ata Rangi Celebre 2008 ($32) is different every year, depending on the ratio of grapes added to the blend. This year it’s one-third merlot, syrah and cab sav/cab franc. After the restrained elegance of the pinot, my nose was blown away by Celebre’s big bold blackcurrants seasoned with black pepper with a side of mushrooms. The currants became red in the mouth, with a liberal sprinkling of smoked paprika. Have it with cheese for a second wave of flavours.
Wine of the week: well known for their pinot noir, Julicher Estate Riesling 2008 ($19.95) is now stamping its mark, last week winning a gold at the Air NZ Wine Awards. We tried the wine last Thursday, an unseasonably warm evening. Straight out of the fridge, the mineral/kerosene and lime aroma show strongly, then the riesling warms up to release its sweeter stone fruit and citrus characters, with funky honey undercurrents. As a result of the Te Muna Road (Martinborough) region’s long ripening season, Julicher’s Finnish winemaker Outi Javovirta, has the ripest grapes from which to craft her wine. Recommended.
For all ANZWA medal winners, see www.wineshow.co.nz.
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