Sophia 2016 (Craggy Range)

Cellar for up to 11 years. No need to decant before serving. Set right under the impressive Te Mata mountain peak, Craggy Range is one of New Zealand’s top boutique wineries. This refined New Zealand red is named "Sophia" after the ancient Greek personification of wisdom, paying tribute to the unique blend of knowledge, experience and understanding required to create a truly exceptional wine. Primarily composed of Merlot along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a drop of Petit Verdot, this cuvee is made with fruit from the Gimblett Gravels area which is carefully blended to capture the distinctive character of the local terroir. Once in the winery the grapes are vinified separately aby individual batch with ageing in French oak barrels for 19 months. The final blend is created by the master winemaker and the wine is allowed to rest and mature in the bottle before it is deemed ready for release. This helps to create a richly aromatic red bursting with cassis, blackberry, cocoa and winter spice on a backbone of firm tannins and a well-developed structure. The elegant yet powerful flavour profile and long finish make this a great gastronomic wine, ideal for pairing with hearty beef stews, steak, or rich vegetarian dishes like moussaka.