THE American but Queensland domiciled Peabody family searched the southern hemisphere for the most apt location and the finest people to establish a world-class winery and wine brand.
They now have two highly capitalised and carefully planned wineries using fruit from either their own vineyards or those they have access to from all of New Zealand’s leading wine regions.
They were fortunate to link up with Steve Smith, who has one of the two or three most extraordinary palates that Australasia has unearthed.
These days Craggy Range and its more reasonably priced sibling Wild Rock produce many of New Zealand’s finest wines across a series of varieties and price ranges.
The Craggy Range Le Sol Shiraz 2005, for example, won The Tri-Nation’s Shiraz category recently – against Australia’s finest – when judged by a high-quality international panel.
James Halliday has also reviewed the 2006 Le Sol release with matching plaudits.
Le Sol is off the famed 700ha of gravel river bed residue now know as the Gimblett Gravels.
This area is producing stunning shiraz and red Bordeaux variety wines and Craggy Range owns more than 100ha of it.
Wild Rock Cupid’s Arrow Pinot Noir 2008
The Wild Rock Cupid’s Arrow 2007 Pinot Noir was among the best value for money Australasian pinot noirs (at $29.50) and it was produced, as with this vintage, from Central Otago fruit.
Central Otago is towards the south-east of New Zealand’s South Island and many Australian critics believe that it will play a significant part in the future of the new world’s pinot noir production.
The just arrived (and still needing time to settle) 2008 vintage is a far superior wine. This shows quality, long and complex fruit that has very soft and beautifully textured edges and the pure wafting pinot aromatics that are enticingly perfumed.
Back labels on wine bottles are a wasted image creation opportunity for nearly all wine companies.
The language used is usually cold and hard jargon and the details summarising the style and the wine flavours could literally be interchanged between brand after brand after brand.
They are not user-friendly, say nothing of interest, do not win the “hearts and minds” and are usually in such small print that the typical 50-year-old could not read them in the subdued mood lighting of many Perth restaurants.
Bear in mind though that virtually all wine bottle back labels are so boring that experience tells one not to waste time reading them even if one could decipher the small print in bright light.
Compare the usual back label garbage with the excitement and feel of the succinct and image creating wording off the Wild Rock Cupid’s Arrow 2008 Pinot Noir label:
“Wild Rock: The best vineyards, sustainably grown, talented people, the most pristine environment in the world.
Cupid’s Arrow: For the love of Pinot Noir.
Place: Spectacular Central Otago, the world's most southern wine region.
Wine: Just Pinot Noir.
Flavour: All red fruits and wild herbs, soft, succulent, delicious.”
In a surprise move, the marketing team has reduced the price from the 2007 release’s $29.50 to $27.50.
If you like pinot noir you will like this.
At this price this is a crowd pleaser and it is difficult to see how there could be a more appealing pinot noir on the market at the price.
17.5 points RRP $27.50
To locate retail stocks, call Anthony Evans on 0432 759 481.