2013 Craggy Range Sophia Merlot Blend 750ml

Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand

Red - Bold and Structured

A refined and elegant hand-crafted Merlot dominant blend that represents both the vigneron’s art and an inherent understanding of the land, ensuring ‘Sophiaâ€?is the finest expression of the terroir and the people. ‘Sophiaâ€? meaning ‘wisdomâ€?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.

Very dark, deep, black-hued ruby-red with a youthful purple rim. The nose is very elegantly proportioned and tightly concentrated with aromas of ripe blackberry fruit entwined with black plums and blackcurrants. The aromatics show beautiful clarity and fragrance with lifted red and black fruits, along with fragrant spices, oak, and smoke notes. This has great depth, intensity, and finesse. Medium-full-bodied, rich, sumptuous, and luscious layers of ripe black plum and blackberry fruit are lifted by blackcurrants and sweet herbal notes, with fragrant red fruit, leaf, and floral elements. The fruit is enhanced by nuances of spice and subtle oak richness. The wine is driven along with a very refined core of extraction, with the elegance of structure and grip, and excellent linearity, the sweetness enlivened by juicy, ripe acidity. This has the perfect balance of freshness, vitality, and mouth-watering richness, the flavours carrying through to a very long finish. This is a wonderfully elegant, sweetly rich, vibrantly refreshing Sophia, with refined structure and the balance to age 10-15 years. Serve with roast lamb, beef, venison, and with semi-hard cheeses. A blend of 62% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot from the ‘Gimblett Gravels vineyard, fermented to 13.8% alc., the wine aged 19 months in 42% new French oak barriques.