Craggy Range's flagship pinot noir just seems to get better and better with every vintage. It's a rich, dense wine with sweet plum, dark berry, violet, spice and nutty oak flavours. Long and layered with impressive complexity.

Very dark, near impenetrable black-hued purple-red colour, a little lighter on the edge, and very youthful in appearance. The nose is intensely concentrated and tightly bound with elegantly penetrating aromas of dark redcurrant, blackcurrant and plum fruit entwined with spiced and cedary and pencilly oak, along with subtle layers of fresh dark herbs, minerals and a suggestion of iron-earth. Medium-full bodied, the palate is beautifully proportioned with rich, succulent fruit flavours of blackberries, black and red currants with dark-red plums. The fruit unfolds spice notes with cedary and pencilly oak, along with notes of herbs and minerals. The fruit is vibrant with plenty of acid energy, and along with the richness forms an elegantly concentrated heart, with balanced tannin structure and grip. The textures carry the wine to a densely packed, long and sustained finish of black fruits, herbs, spices and cedary oak. This is a vibrant, elegantly proportioned, succulently rich Merlot-based wine with black fruits, herbs and oak on a well-structured and packed palate. 19/20

Bitter tannins and sour plum notes abound in this wine. The blend is 73% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc. Apparently, there was some scarring on the Cabernet Sauvignon but there are no burnt notes or overt astringency in the wine. The sour theme is rather enticing and refreshing and it lifts the finish. The heat, later in the season, gives it a crunchiness to the tannins which is rather exciting and savoury. This is a very interesting wine and it is worthy of five years of cellaring before you open it. 18.5 Points.

A compelling rendition of Bordeaux blend from their Gimblett Gravels vineyard, the bouquet is striking and complex, exhibiting dark plum, cassis, bay leaf, cedar and smoked game characters. The palate delivers awesome concentration and richness, wonderfully complemented by silky texture and fleshy mouthfeel. Tannins are fine and in abundance, providing outstanding structure and length to this breathtaking wine. 2015 Sophia is a blend of 73% merlot, 14% cabernet sauvignon and 13% cabernet franc. At its best 2019 to 2030.

Bitter tannins and sour plum notes abound in this wine. The blend is 73% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc. Apparently, there was some scarring on the Cabernet Sauvignon but there are no burnt notes or overt astringency in the wine. The sour theme is rather enticing and refreshing and it lifts the finish. The heat, later in the season, gives it a crunchiness to the tannins which is rather exciting and savoury. This is a very interesting wine and it is worthy of five years of cellaring before you open it. 18.5 Points.

A compelling rendition of Bordeaux blend from their Gimblett Gravels vineyard, the bouquet is striking and complex, exhibiting dark plum, cassis, bay leaf, cedar and smoked game characters. The palate delivers awesome concentration and richness, wonderfully complemented by silky texture and fleshy mouthfeel. Tannins are fine and in abundance, providing outstanding structure and length to this breathtaking wine. 2015 Sophia is a blend of 73% merlot, 14% cabernet sauvignon and 13% cabernet franc. At its best 2019 to 2030.

2015 was a three peat of a line of outstanding vintages in Hawke's Bay and this blend of 73 per cent Merlot, 14 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 13 per cent Cabernet Franc oozes charm, sexy spice layers and stylish fruit concentration. I love the smoky, cedary characters cloaking the plum, berry and dark cacao tones in the wine. The tannisns are muscular, sinewy and sexy, while the finish is elegant and ever-lasting. Delicious now, but with decades of life ahead. Sip with seared venison, tomato and pomegranate salad.

Deep crimson. Sweetly fruited and sweetly oak-spiced on the nose. Firm with thick tannins. A bit heavy-handed but bags of dark-fruited flavour. Very polished. 17/20 Points

A super-smooth blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabaret franc with dense, complex mixed red berries, blackcurrant, floral, violet, anise, spice, cedar, new leather and nutty oak flavours. A powerful wine that's impressive now but shows obvious cellaring potential.

Three grapes vie for attention in this wine: 73% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc, all contributing body and fruit weight. The soft richness comes from the super-concentrated ripe Merlot component while the two Cabernet's provide dark fruits notes. it was aged for 19 months in French oak (45% new) and drinks well now but will age for 9-10 years, potential longer. 18.5/20

A beautiful Sophia. The concentration, the fruit presence and purity, the measured tannins and confident ripeness – there's so much to impress here and the wine is at the start of a very long ride. Blueberry and cassis, cherries and violets, fresh earth and stony elements, too. The palate holds long and fleshy with a flawlessly integrated array of flavors, varieties and tannin textures. It builds and finishes assertively in the mode of great Claret. You can approach it now, but it will hit full stride around 2025 and drink for at least a decade after that.