2022 Craggy Range Aroha Pinot Noir, Martinborough

Elegant wine with raspberry, dark cherry, mixed spice and subtle spicy oak. Supple, silken-textured pinot noir that is seductively easy to appreciate. Vibrant wine with impressive purity. 19 Jan 2024 Drink 2024–2030

95 points Bob Campbell MW therealreview.com

Craggy Range Aroha Pinot Noir from Martinborough is one of New Zealand’s most refined and site-driven expressions of Pinot Noir. It is the flagship red wine from Craggy Range’s Te Muna Road vineyard and a wine that has become synonymous with elegance, complexity, and the quiet power that great Martinborough Pinot can achieve. The name Aroha means “love” in Māori, and it’s a fitting title for a wine born from deep respect for land, vines, and craft.

Craggy Range was founded in 1997 by Australian businessman Terry Peabody, who had a vision of creating single-vineyard wines from the best regions in New Zealand. The Te Muna Road site in Martinborough was selected for its remarkable similarity to Burgundy—ancient river terraces, cool nights, and deep, free-draining soils ideal for Pinot Noir.

The Aroha Pinot Noir is made from the finest parcels on the estate, particularly the Abel and Clone 5 vines, which bring concentration, perfume, and structure. These blocks are managed with extraordinary care and low yields to maximise flavour intensity while maintaining finesse.

Ben Tombs, Chief Winemaker at Craggy Range since 2021, leads the winemaking with a focus on restraint and purity. Ben brings extensive experience from both New Zealand and overseas, including time at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy—an influence that’s clearly felt in his approach to Aroha. The fruit is handpicked, sorted with precision, and fermented with indigenous yeasts, often including a portion of whole bunches to add aromatic lift and savoury complexity. The wine is then matured in fine French oak barrels, around one third new, for 12 to 14 months.

In the glass, Aroha is both ethereal and powerful. Aromas of dark cherry, black tea, rose petal, wild thyme, and wet earth lead into a silky palate with fine tannins and vivid acidity. The finish is long, mineral, and poised—suggesting both age-worthiness and immense class.

Aroha Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with duck breast, venison, or mushroom-based dishes. It’s a wine that speaks softly but leaves a lasting impression, reflecting not just the land but the philosophy behind it.