Ata Rangi - Pinot Noir 2018
Ata Rangi , meaning "Dawn Sky" or "New Beginning", is a small New Zealand estate located on the southern tip of the North Island in the village of Martinborough . It is owned and run by a family trio - Clive Paton , his wife Phyll and his sister Alison. Clive planted his first vines on a small stony sheep enclosure on the edge of the village of Martinborough in 1980, and is considered one of the few pioneers of viticulture in the area. Their philosophy is organic farming , long-term sustainability and a clear desire to leave the land better than they found it. The valley is protected from rain by mountains on three sides. Harvest days are warm, but nights are cool all year round due to direct exposure to the southern ocean. These factors contribute significantly to consistency of quality, both by preserving the intensity of the fruit and by facilitating long, slow and steady ripening throughout the fall. Ata Rangi achieved full organic status in 2014. Biodiversity is enhanced by mixed native shelterbelts and the planting of wildflowers between the rows. The vineyard and winery are founding members of SWNZ ( Sustainable Winegrowing of New Zealand ). Additionally, Clive Paton established the Aorangi Conservation Trust . The ultimate goal of this foundation is to one day reintroduce endangered native birds, while protecting the regenerating forest. Clive has planted more than 75,000 trees over the past 15 years, both local species and hardy eucalypts to serve as future vineyards and farms.
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir comes from the oldest plots of Pinot Noir. In the blend, 40% is composed of the legendary Abel clone. The harvest is manual and 35% of whole bunches are used for winemaking. The grapes undergo pre-fermentation cold maceration for 6 days. Aging lasts 11 months in barrels , 35% of which are new.
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir