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Sophia, Craggy Range 2013

RegionNew Zealand
Subregion New Zealand > Hawkes Bay
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

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Label

Tasting Notes

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Sophia Proprietary Red is intensely scented of crushed blackberries and blackcurrants with hints of cloves, cedar and violets plus a touch of pencil shavings. Medium-bodied and laden with muscular fruit, it has a solid backbone of grainy tannins and tons of vivacity in the long, multi-layered finish.

93+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, RobertParker.com (222), December 2015

This is a Bordeaux-style blend with 62% merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Yield 48 hl/ha, inoculated, aged 19 months in French oak, 42% new. 13.8% alcohol. Beautifully perfumed nose of floral red cherries, plums and blackcurrant, with a subtle fine spiciness. The palate has superbly balanced sweet cherries and black fruits. It has presence and concentration but it’s also quite understated, with fine-grained tannins and a fresh, dynamic personality. So fine, this has massive potential.

95
Jamie Goode, Wineanorak.com, May 2015

Convincing evidence of this vintage's quality in Hawke's Bay. Hand picked 62% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. In 42% new barriques for 19 months. Bright crimson and very bright fruit that is very beautiful and beautifully balanced. Super ripe but not sweet. Much fresher than the too-heavy bottle suggests. Really very accomplished. Long and neat. Really lovely wine that lasted well in an opened bottle - A Good Sign.

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, June 2015

A Merlot dominant Bordeaux blend, the barrel sample of the 2013 Sophia showed a deep purple color and gorgeous nose with notes of warm cassis and blackberries plus tons of baking spice layers and a slight meatiness. Full bodied, concentrated with beautifully ripe, velvety tannins and layers of black fruits, earth and spice flavors, it has a very long in the finish. Sophia was not produced in 2012.

93/95
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, RobertParker.com (216), January 2015
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.