2024 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir, Martinborough

Deep crimson. Quite closed on the nose currently. Dark, purple-fruited expression with blackcurrant, blueberry and black cherry wrapped in woodsmoke, cardamom and clove. Dense and compact. The palate is very primary too, showing good concentration of ripe purple fruit all across the mid-palate before easing towards something more floral and spicy on the finish. Fine grained, late tannins sit just beneath the dollop of fruit. Very well made with plenty of promise, this young wine will relax and unfold over the next year or two. Its flavoursome mid-weight finish promises several years of evolution as it gains complexity and breadth 21 Aug 2025 Drink 2026–2034

93 points Stephen Wong MW therealreview.com

Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir from Martinborough is a silky, finely structured wine that showcases the precision and perfume of one of New Zealand’s most revered Pinot-producing regions. Grown on the famed Te Muna Terrace just outside the village of Martinborough, this wine reflects both the cool climate clarity and the serious winemaking intent that has made Craggy Range an internationally respected name in Pinot Noir.

The Te Muna Road Vineyard is split across two distinct terraces, with the Pinot Noir coming primarily from the higher terrace, where the ancient gravelly soils and free draining conditions produce small berries with intense flavour concentration. The cool nights and long growing season allow the fruit to ripen slowly, building aromatic complexity while preserving bright acidity.

Winemaking at Craggy Range is handled with restraint and respect for the fruit. The grapes are hand harvested, with fermentation carried out in small open top tanks, often with a proportion of whole bunches to add structure and lift. The wine is then aged in French oak barriques, about a third of them new, for 10 to 12 months before bottling.

In the glass, Te Muna Road Pinot Noir opens with alluring aromas of red cherry, cranberry, dried rose petals, and subtle spice. The palate is medium bodied and textural, with refined tannins, vibrant acidity, and a core of red fruit laced with savoury earth and mineral tension. It’s an elegant, expressive Pinot that captures the essence of Martinborough with clarity and depth.

Perfect with duck breast, lamb loin, or mushroom risotto, this wine is both delicious now and capable of ageing gracefully over the next 8 to 10 years.