Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2020

98 Points JamesSuckling.com : A beautiful nose of sliced strawberries, crushed cherries, violets, grated nutmeg and a hint of white pepper. Some hibiscus, too. Supremely vibrant and perfumed with fine tannins that run the length of the medium-bodied palate. Textural. Ground spice and fresh fruit are intertwined, providing wonderful depth and complexity. So long as well. Seamless balance. Superb. Sustainable. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

96 Points Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous The 2020 Pinot Noir reminds me of walking into a cathedral - that quiet, cool hush that falls as you walk through its doors. This is harmonious, supple, unshowy and unforced. Hailing from old vines and delicately textured despite the abundance of fruit concentration. Refined tannins with the finest of gravelly textures, akin to licking a stone. Scented yet restrained, with a fragrance of sweet red fruit, tea leaf and cedar spices with persistent acidity that carries it. Very complete and already approachable. Drink 2023-2038

Clive Paton, a regional pioneer, was among the first to plant grapevines on the Martinborough Terrace in 1980, and his winery has since become an icon in the New Zealand wine industry. Known for the Gumboot clone of Pinot Noir, this cutting was reputedly smuggled into the country in a pair of gumboots from Domaine de la Romanée Conti's vineyards by a resourceful New Zealander. Ata Rangi received the prestigious Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa award in 2010, which is New Zealand's answer to the Grand Cru status, and winemaker Helen Masters has been consistently crafting some of the country's top Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.