Craggy Range 'Le Sol', Gimblett Gravels 2021

Very dark purple core. Abundant sweet, black fruits lead the bouquet, notably boysenberry and blueberry aromas. The tannin structure of the wine is exemplary and seamless from start to finish. The wine shows considerable drinkability in its youth, and the intensity is the highest in several years. One of our finest examples of Le Sol.

Le Sol, Gimblett Gravels Vineyard

Gimblett Gravels, a winegrowing district in Hawke’s Bay, is situated on the ancient Ngaruroro River bed, exposed for viticulture since its course change in 1867. The stony soil, with greywacke stones, silt, and sand, enhances vine ripening by absorbing and radiating heat. This structure allows rapid drainage, controlling vine growth with low fertility for moderate vigour. Precise management is crucial, offering the potential for rich, ripe red wines with a distinctive 'Gimblett Dust' character. Despite being warm by New Zealand standards, the area's low altitude and proximity to the sea create a temperate maritime climate, retaining fruit aromatics due to the lack of excessive heat.

Brix 23 average Production Level 28 hl/ha Vintage Detail A very warm spring brought forward the growing season. Summer was mild but with minimal rain days, producing low yields. The result was near-perfect ripening conditions for Syrah. Hand Harvested 100 %

Whole Bunch 27 % Destemmed 73 % Fermentation vessel Open top French oak cuves Fermentation Indigenous Barrel Type French and Austrian barriques and puncheons New Barrel % 32 % Maturation 17 months Fining No Filtration Yes Coarse Bottled Dec-22