Craggy Range, Gimblett Gravels Vineyard - Syrah, Le Sol - Hawkes Bay 2023
Craggy Range, established in 1998, is a family-owned winery located in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand, near Te Mata Peak. Founded by Terry and Mary Peabody, the winery was created with a vision of producing world-class wines that reflect the region’s unique landscapes. Focusing on the Gimblett Gravels in Hawke's Bay and Te Muna Road in Martinborough, Craggy Range has built a reputation for crafting iconic wines deeply connected to their terroir.
Gimblett Gravels
Hawke's bay Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district lies on the ancient bed of the Ngaruroro river, which changed course in 1867 to expose its soils for possible viticulture. Here, the combination of low altitude, the proximity to the sea and the poor stony soils create rich, ripe, yet elegantly structured red wines.
Discover Gimblett Gravels: https://youtu.be/4HxWIWlO_hU
The 2023 vintage
The vintage of 2023 was the second in consecutive years heavily influenced by the La Nina climatic weather event. This manifested in strong north westerlies bringing rain events from the Pacific. In isolation, this presented the challenges of a wetter-than-average growing season; however, when we consider the favourable yields and temperatures, we are more optimistic about what wines are born from this year’s harvest.
In Hawke’s Bay, we experienced our share of challenges, with a wetter-than-average season culminating in an ex-tropical storm distributing a large volume of rain before harvest. We are very fortunate to have our vineyards spared of any significant damage and, three weeks later, commenced harvest with sugar reaching desired levels. As temperatures had been cooler than any of the last five years, the late-season reds were spared significant damage, and importantly, a dry second half of March prevailed. The Hawke’s Bay wines of 2023 are extremely pure and more akin to a classic New Zealand harvest. No signs of greenness and flavours are balanced and in harmony with the natural acidity. Whilst we had to navigate the challenges the season presented, I say with no hesitation that our land, on the warmest and highest gravel concentration site of the Gimblett Gravels, has produced wines of beauty from 2023.
Tasting notes:
Deep twilight purple in the glass. From a cooler, more restrained year, lavender, liquorice, graphite, and mulberry aromas emerge with quiet elegance. The palate is finely etched—floral and savoury notes carry on a thread of tension and freshness. Silken, precise tannins offer structure and grace. A wine of subtle beauty, shaped by the season and destined to unfold slowly with time.