Sam Kim | Wine Orbit 98/100
A%20magnificent%2C%20cellar-aged%20pinot%3B%20the%20bouquet%20is%20totally%20seductive%2C%20displaying%20spiced%20plum%2C%20dark%20cherry%2C%20game%2C%20truffle%20and%20cedar%20characters%2C%20followed%20by%20a%20silky-smooth%20palate%20that%20is%20multi-layered%20and%20impressively%20weighted%2C%20while%20remaining%20exquisitely%20elegant%20and%20harmonious.%20The%20wine%20offers%20fabulous%20fruit%20purity%20together%20with%20alluring%20savoury%20complexity%2C%20making%20it%20irresistibly%20delicious.%20At%20its%20best:%20now%20to%202026.%20%2475.00.%20www.atarangi.co.nz.%20June%202018.
Cameron Douglas 97/100
Complex%20and%20alluring%20bouquet%20of%20Pinot%20Noir%20led%20by%20aromas%20of%20stony%20minerality%2C%20a%20steely%20haunting%20layer%20amidst%20aromas%20of%20red%20berries%20and%20red%20apple%3B%20then%20vanilla%20and%20sweet%20oak%20scents.%20Dry%2C%20complex%20and%20equally%20alluring%20on%20the%20palate%20with%20layers%20of%20dried%20herb%2C%20stony%20earthy%20flavours%2C%20firm%20youthful%20tannins%20and%20acidity%20to%20match.%20The%20core%20of%20red%20berry%20fruits%20brings%20all%20the%20elements%20together%20into%20a%20long%20and%20complex%20finish.%20Overall%20balance%20still%20to%20arrive%2C%20this%20wine%20needs%20more%20time%20please.%20
Bob Campbell 96/100
Quite%20a%20dense%2C%20savoury%20pinot%20noir%20with%20cherry%2C%20berry%2C%20dried%20herb%2C%20stemmy%2C%20floral%2C%20violet%2C%20mixed%20spice%20and%20anise%20flavours.%20It%20makes%20a%20bold%20statement.%20A%20firmly-structured%20wine%20with%20obvious%20cellaring%20potential%20
James Suckling 95/100
A%20powerful%20pinot%20with%20deep-set%20darker%20cherry%20and%20plum%20fruits%2C%20sappy%20and%20spicy%20fresh%20forest%20aromas.%20Pomegranate%20and%20ripe%20dark-fleshed%20peaches%20add%20plenty%20of%20interest.%20The%20palate%20has%20a%20deep%2C%20luscious%20and%20spicy%20feel%20to%20it%20with%20plenty%20of%20rich%20and%20ripe%20cherry%20fruits%20on%20offer.%20This%20carries%20a%20bold%20ball%20of%20tannins%20in%20a%20polished%20but%20dense%20mode.%20Drink%20now%20and%20for%20several%20years%20to%20come.%20
Gourmet Traveller /
The%20two-and-a-half%20hectare%20McCrone%20Vineyard%20was%20planted%20in%202001%20with%20Abel%2C%20Clone%205%20and%20Dijon%20clones%20115%20and%20777.%20This%20is%20the%20fourth%20release%20(other%20vintages%20are%202008%2C%202009%20and%202011).%20Dense%2C%20rich%2C%20flavour-packed%20pinot%20noir%20with%20black-fleshed%20plum%2C%20spice%2C%20floral%20and%20a%20strong%20savoury%2Fstemmy%20character%20that%20might%20derive%20from%20the%20use%20of%2030%20per%20cent%20whole%20bunches%20in%20the%20fermentation.%20A%20complex%20and%20powerful%20wine%20with%20cellaring%20potential.
Parker 92+/100
Like%20the%202014%20Pinot%20Noir%2C%20the%202014%20McCrone%20Vineyard%20Pinot%20Noir%20is%20a%20bit%20leafier%20in%20character%20than%20the%20other%20vintages.%20It's%20crisp%2C%20linear%20and%20tightly%20wound%2C%20with%20tart%20cherry%20fruit%20balancing%20the%20wine's%20ample%20weight%20and%20richness.
Raymond Chan 19/20
Dark%2C%20deep%20ruby-red%20colour.%20The%20bouquet%20is%20intensely%20deep%20with%20complex%20secondary%20notes%2C%20the%20nose%20showing%20bold%2C%20savoury%20dark%20red%20berry%20fruits%20with%20dried%20herbs%2C%20whole%20bunch%20stalk%20lift%20and%20nuances%20of%20undergrowth.%20Full-bodied%20on%20palate%2C%20this%20has%20weight%20and%20power%2C%20with%20depth%20and%20concentration.%20The%20fruit%20is%20sweetly%20rich%20with%20savoury%20dark-red%20berry%2C%20cherry%20and%20plum%20notes%20with%20dark%20and%20dried%20herbs%2C%20stalk%20elements%2C%20and%20nuances%20of%20game%20and%20undergrowth.%20The%20extraction%20and%20structure%20is%20considerable%2C%20and%20the%20acidity%20balanced%20and%20integrated.%20A%20fulsome%20and%20complex%20wine%20already.
Bob Campbell 98/100
Quite%20a%20dense%2C%20savoury%20pinot%20noir%20with%20cherry%2C%20berry%2C%20dried%20herb%2C%20stemmy%2C%20floral%2C%20violet%2C%20mixed%20spice%20and%20anise%20flavours.%20It%20makes%20a%20bold%20statement.%20A%20firmly-structured%20wine%20with%20obvious%20cellaring%20potential%20.%20
Wine Orbit 96/100
A%20magnificent%2C%20cellar-aged%20pinot%3B%20the%20bouquet%20is%20totally%20seductive%2C%20displaying%20spiced%20plum%2C%20dark%20cherry%2C%20game%2C%20truffle%20and%20cedar%20characters%2C%20followed%20by%20a%20silky-smooth%20palate%20that%20is%20multi-layered%20and%20impressively%20weighted%2C%20while%20remaining%20exquisitely%20elegant%20and%20harmonious.%20The%20wine%20offers%20fabulous%20fruit%20purity%20together%20with%20alluring%20savoury%20complexity%2C%20making%20it%20irresistibly%20delicious.%20
The Winefront
96/100
I%20did%20a%20quick%20tasting%20of%20twenty%20or%20so%20Martinborough%20Pinot%20Noir%E2%80%A6and%20the%20venue%20was%20the%20McCrone%20House%2C%20which%20sits%20inside%20the%20McCrone%20Vineyard.%20So%20I%20walked%20outside%20into%20the%20vines%20to%20finish%20the%20tasting.%20Dried%20flower%20perfume%2C%20dried%20cherry%2C%20sappy%20orange%20peel.%20Pow%20pow%20powerful%2C%20with%20a%20bitterness%20and%20dark%20chocolate%20flavour%20in%20with%20brighter%20perfumed%20fruit%2C%20chinotto%20and%20tannin%20push%20the%20finish%20out.%20Really%20like%20this.%20Has%20an%20X-factor%2C%20a%20bit%20of%20chutzpah%2C%20that%20sets%20it%20apart%20from%20the%20pack.
Gourmet Traveller 18.5/20
The%20two-and-a-half%20hectare%20McCrone%20Vineyard%20was%20planted%20in%202001%20with%20Abel%2C%20Clone%205%20and%20Dijon%20clones%20115%20and%20777.%20This%20is%20the%20fourth%20release%20(other%20vintages%20are%202008%2C%202009%20and%202011).%20Dense%2C%20rich%2C%20flavour-packed%20pinot%20noir%20with%20black-fleshed%20plum%2C%20spice%2C%20floral%20and%20a%20strong%20savoury%2Fstemmy%20character%20that%20might%20derive%20from%20the%20use%20of%2030%20per%20cent%20whole%20bunches%20in%20the%20fermentation.%20A%20complex%20and%20powerful%20wine%20with%20cellaring%20potential.