Vintage Character Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2022 comes from Martinborough in Wairarapa, one of New Zealand’s most respected Pinot Noir terroirs, and stands as the estate’s flagship expression of the variety. The 2022 vintage is widely regarded as very strong in Martinborough: a generally settled growing season and fine autumn conditions supported even ripening, giving the wine both concentration and detail. Much of the character here is shaped by the Martinborough Terrace, whose ancient alluvial gravels and free-draining soils naturally limit vigour and help produce Pinot Noir of perfume, structure, and striking clarity.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing The wine was awarded 95 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, underscoring its status among the Southern Hemisphere’s benchmark Pinots. The nose offers black cherry, raspberry, plum skin, violet, spice, and subtle earthy, savoury tones; on the palate it is medium-bodied yet intense, with silken texture, fine tannins, bright acidity, and a long, mineral-tinged finish layered with dark berries, forest floor, and gentle oak spice. It pairs beautifully with duck breast, roast lamb with herbs, or mushroom risotto.
Winery Background Founded in 1980 by Clive Paton, Ata Rangi helped define Martinborough as a world-class Pinot Noir region, and the family-owned estate remains one of New Zealand’s great names. The vineyards are farmed organically, with a strong emphasis on handwork and careful fruit selection, while winemaker Helen Masters follows a restrained, site-led philosophy designed to express vineyard character rather than cellar artifice. Fermentation typically includes a measured proportion of whole bunches, and maturation in French oak brings texture and complexity without overshadowing the fruit, making Ata Rangi a reference point for elegance, longevity, and authenticity.