2022 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir

Ata Rangi has long stood at the very top of New Zealand Pinot Noir, its name synonymous with Martinborough’s stony soils and the powerful, cellar-worthy wines they produce. Founded in 1980 by Clive Paton on a humble sheep paddock, the estate has grown into one of the world’s great Pinot benchmarks, without ever losing its small-family ethos.

The 2022 release shows exactly why Ata Rangi is held in such esteem. It’s made from the estate’s oldest vines on the Martinborough Terrace, including a large proportion of the Abel clone – the so-called “Gumboot” Pinot that’s become part of New Zealand wine folklore. The season brought its challenges, but careful handwork and strict selection meant only pristine fruit made it into the fermenters.

In the glass, the wine is as perfumed and complex as ever: spice-laden notes of clove, cardamom and pink peppercorn over red fruits, rosehip and grilled strawberry. The palate brings that classic Ata Rangi poise – silky, layered, savoury, with fine tannins threading everything together. It finishes long and precise, promising both immediate charm and decades of graceful evolution.

A landmark 2022 release from one of New Zealand’s most important producers.

98 points
"Stunning and captivating, the wine shows dark berry, warm spice, porcini, and toasted almond characters with an elegant floral overtone. The palate is equally enticing with outstanding concentration and depth, combined with silky flow and beautifully infused fine tannins, making it wonderfully structured with finesse and sophistication. Gorgeously proportioned and harmonious with a sustained, graceful finish."
- Sam Kim (Wine Orbit)