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Food Pairing

Game Bird, Poultry, Duck, Vegetarian

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The Story

Produced entirely from Craggy Range’s Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, nestled on the right bank of the Ngaruroro River, Sophia is a blend of the very best Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec parcels of the vineyard. The grapes are hand harvested and destemmed before fermenting in closed-top oak vessels. The wine then matures in French barriques.

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Wine Information

A refined and elegant hand-crafted Merlot dominant blend that represents both the Vigneron’s art and an inherent understanding of the land, ensuring ‘Sophia’ is the finest expression of the terroir and the people. ‘Sophia’, meaning ‘wisdom’ in Greek mythology, pays tribute to the goddess of knowledge and experience, information and understanding - a philosophy adopted by our winemakers and viticulturists when crafting this wine.

Deep, garne...

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Vintage 2021

A very warm spring brought forward the growing season. Summer was mild but with minimal rain days, producing low yields.

 

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Tasting note

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Written Notes

The 2021 vintage in Hawke’s Bay is regarded as one of the region’s cooler, more classically styled years. A mild spring and early summer were followed by a long, even ripening period with no extreme heat events, allowing Bordeaux varieties to mature slowly and retain bright acidity and refined aromatics. Lower yields contributed to purity and concentration, while the cooler season lent a distinctly elegant, structured, and mineral-driven character. For Sophia, 2021 produced a wine of restraint, finesse, and impressive balance, leaning toward European-style precision rather than overt richness.


The Sophia 2021 is a beautifully shaped, poised expression of the Gimblett Gravels—elegant, fresh, and finely layered, with a classic Right Bank sensibility. The nose opens with lifted aromas of red plum, black cherry, and boysenberry, intertwined with notes of violet, dried lavender, graphite, and cedar spice. Underneath the fruit, subtle hints of fresh tobacco, cocoa dust, and crushed river stone reflect both varietal purity and the gravelly terroir.

On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, precise, and wonderfully balanced, driven by fine-grained, gently firm tannins and a vibrant line of acidity. Flavors of ripe redcurrant, plum skin, and cassis unfold elegantly, accented by touches of bay leaf, mocha, and savory spice. The cooler vintage brings a sense of clarity and freshness, while the Merlot core adds suppleness and charm. The finish is long, mineral, and refreshingly refined, showing quiet persistence rather than power.

A sophisticated and beautifully proportioned Sophia—stylistically elegant, terroir-driven, and built on purity rather than exuberance. It will continue to gain harmony and nuance over the next 8–12 years, though it is already showing impressive poise.


  • 94p
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Information

Origin

Havelock North, New Zealand
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