Craggy Range - Le Sol (Gimblett Gravels) - Hawkes Bay 2022

Craggy Range - Le Sol (Gimblett Gravels) - Hawkes Bay 2022

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 2022 Vintage: 

The vintage of 2022 was defined by an extremely warm December and January. In both regions, up until this point, we’d be tracking as being an average year. However, a considerable temperature spike in these months accelerated the vine growth and, most importantly, physiological ripeness. This was critical when rainfall events occurred during February and March and showed the value of our soils’ free-draining nature. 

Tasting notes: 

A very dark purple core. Aromas of lavender, black tea, graphite, and mulberry resonate. In the mouth, the wine is very expressive. Umami and floral notes complement, creating a deeply flavourful and energetic palate. Tannins are ultra-fine, silk-laden, and thread in with the dense texture, making an already very approachable release, but will reward with cellaring and age with grace.