2020 Craggy Range ‘Sophia’ Merlot Cabernet 750ml

Description

Store Pickup Available

Pickup is available from Sip & Cellars, 1123 Burke Road, Kew VIC 3101.

The 2020 Craggy Range ‘Sophia’ Merlot Cabernet is a refined and structured Bordeaux-style blend from New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay, crafted by Craggy Range. Named after founder Terry Peabody’s daughter, Sophia is one of Craggy Range’s flagship red wines, representing the pinnacle of their Bordeaux varietal program.

Sourced from the renowned Gimblett Gravels and surrounding premium vineyard sites in Hawke’s Bay, the 2020 vintage benefited from excellent ripening conditions that delivered fruit of exceptional concentration, balance, and aromatic intensity. The region’s warm days and free-draining alluvial soils are ideal for producing structured, age-worthy Cabernet and Merlot blends.

The blend is typically led by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, supported by smaller proportions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, depending on the vintage. Each varietal is vinified separately before careful blending to achieve harmony, structure, and complexity.

The wine was matured in French oak barrels, with a proportion of new oak adding depth, spice, and structure while integrating seamlessly with the fruit.

The bouquet is rich and layered, revealing aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, and dark cherry, complemented by notes of violet, cedar, tobacco leaf, graphite, and subtle baking spice. With time in the glass, savoury nuances of earth, cocoa, and dried herbs begin to emerge.

On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, polished, and finely structured. Flavours of dark berries, cassis, black plum, and mulberry are supported by firm yet refined tannins and vibrant acidity. The texture is powerful but elegant, showing both depth and precision.

The finish is long, structured, and persistent, with lingering notes of black fruit, cedar, spice, and dark chocolate. While approachable in its youth with decanting, the 2020 Sophia has outstanding ageing potential and will continue to evolve gracefully over 15–20 years.

A benchmark Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend, the 2020 Craggy Range Sophia showcases the region’s ability to produce world-class structured reds with both power and finesse.