Pinot Noir Te Muna Road Vineyard

A Pinot Noir from New Zealand's cool South Island – precise, varietally typical, and with the unmistakable character of a site that deserves its name: Te Muna, in Maori "the secret".

Craggy Range was founded in 1997 by the Peabody family together with Steve Smith MW, one of New Zealand's most experienced oenologists. The winery consistently pursues a single-vineyard philosophy – each site is vinified separately because every piece of land tells its own story. The Te Muna Road vineyard lies above Martinborough on two terraces with strongly calcareous soils. The climate is cool and dry, comparable to the Loire or Burgundy, and the harvest often falls one to two weeks later than in the rest of New Zealand – a sign of slow, even ripening.

In the glass, this Pinot Noir shows the classic features of chalk-influenced cool-climate sites: aromas of red cherry and raspberry, a hint of dried herbs, and fine spice. The palate is lean, with a silky texture and fresh acidity structure. The tannins are fine and well-integrated, the finish clear and persistent.

Best served at 14–16 °C. Pairs with rack of lamb with a herb crust, duck breast, or a ripe goat cheese.