Craggy Range Dinner at Wine Watch with owner TJ Peabody

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day."  Frank Sinatra

Who is the best producer in New Zealand today?  One could easily make a case for Craggy Range Winery, every wine in their line-up is at the top range of quality not only for New Zealand but these wines can compete with the best made anywhere in the world!  Join us as we experience the range of current releases from this outstanding producer as the owner of Craggy Range Winery TJ Peabody will be on hand this evening to tell us the secrets behind making world class wine in New Zealand. 

This is a sit down event and Wine Watch Catering's Toni Lampasone will be making w few small courses to accompany the tasting wines below.  The fee for this event is $55 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Craggy Range Dinner at Wine Watch with owner TJ Peabody
Tuesday, February 15th
7pm

Craggy Range Riesling Fletcher Family Vineyard Marlborough 2008
Price: $29.00    Sale $25.52      Case $296

The Fletcher Family Riesling is made from a selected part of the Roncenvin Estate in Marlborough’s famous Wairau Valley, and is expertly farmed by Colin, Chris and Michelle Fletcher. The unique stony soils and low vigor Riesling vines produce fantastic grapes which are selectively hand harvested when superbly ripe.  A finely flavored wine with very pure citrus and floral characters. A lovely minerally texture and juicy finish.

Very pale green straw color. Vibrant, lifted aromas of spicy mandarin, lime, apple, spring flowers and orange zest. The palate is filled with pure mandarin and nectarine fruit characters, and citrus blossom floral notes. These flavors flow over a texture of delicate wet stone minerality.

A fine bead of limey acidity and a balancing touch of natural residual sugar leave the wine finishing poised, long and flavor-filled.

Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2009
Price: $21.50    Sale $18.92      Case $220

(85 Points) A lively white, with pretty Asian pear and lime flavors at the core, hinting at parsley as the finish lingers. Drink now. 15,000 cases imported. -HS Wine Spectator Issue: Jun 15, 2010

Craggy Range Pinot Noir New Zealand 2006
Price: $56.25    Sale $49.50      Case $574

(93 Points) The 2006 Te Muna Road Pinot Noir was a little sullen on the nose . . .the palate displays very fine tannins with a touch of sous-bois and spice towards the plum finish.

The precocious Craggy Range has rapidly become one of New Zealand’s premier wine producers. Established in 1997, it is the collaboration between businessman Terry Peabody and the winemaking expertise of quiet, retiring Steve Smith MW, who concentrates upon the Bordeaux-blend "Sophia" and the Sauvignon Blanc. Smith has employed the skills of Rob Easthope to focus upon Chardonnay and Syrah and Adrian Baker on Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. The state-of-the-art winery is modeled on futuristic architecture and is over-shadowed by the peaks that give rise to their name. The philosophy is firmly directed towards small production of single vineyard sites a la Burgundy. They purchased their own vineyard in the Te Muna sub-region of Martinborough where Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are cultivated, whilst fruit from the South Island is out-sourced. Their two flagship wines of "Sophia," a Bordeaux blend and "Le Sol," which is 100% Syrah. Recent vintages of these were tasted both at the winery and appeared in blind horizontal tasting where their quality shone through. Wine Advocate Issue #176 Apr 2008

Craggy Range Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels Vineyard Hawkes Bay 2006
Price: $21.50    Sale $18.92      Case $220

(84 Points) Crisp in texture, with a soft edge to the tobacco-scented berry and dried herb flavors, plus bell pepper on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Drink now through 2012. 1,000 cases imported. -HS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 2009

Craggy Range Syrah Le Sol New Zealand 2007
Price: $79.50    Sale $69.96      Case $8/11

(96 Points) The 2007 Le Sol Syrah is very intense, almost introverted on the nose, closed compared to the Block 14 but the palate is full-bodied with immense chewy tannins, real weight and concentration but good acidity. Huge grip, pure black cherry, cassis and plum but velvety and caressing on the finish. Iron first/velvet glove etc. Unreal. Drink over 5-15 years.

Craggy Range continue to press forward with their ambitious plans and are rapidly becoming one of the most familiar New Zealand producers both at an entry-level, having successfully penetrated the competitive supermarket shelves in the UK, but also winning plaudits for their array of flagship bottlings such as Le Sol, Sophia and The Quarry. I concentrated on new releases but re-tasted some of the Pinot Noirs that I felt have improved significantly. Wine Advocate Issue #184, Sep 2009

Menu

Goat cheese mousse with orange marmalade jam toast

Salmon wonton crisps with candied ginger and wasabi cream garnished with crispy scallions

Lamb Chop with blueberry garlic jam and goat cheese sweet potato gratin

Poached pear with bittersweet chocolate Hazelnut sauce

A bit about Craggy Range Winery:

Terry Peabody and his family searched for ten years to find the place and the people that could fulfill a dream - that they could make some of the best wine in the world.

It was this notion of legacy - to create something greater than the here and now - that led Terry Peabody in 1997 to Steve Smith and to the development of Craggy Range. Together they set a plan to buy the best vineyard land, select parcels of grapes grown by the country’s best farmers, and to choose a place for their homes, cellars and country restaurant. Their aim was to make single-vineyard wines " wines that are true expressions of the vineyard’s terroir. And an ambition to make the greatest wines in the land. No small goal and one that is not achieved without considerable effort.

Craggy Range combines two first-class talents. Terry Peabody’s success as a businessman now includes being Chairman and Proprietor of Craggy Range working alongside the highly tuned winemaking instincts and experience in the wine trade of Steve Smith, MW as business partner and Wine and Viticulture Director. Their families are involved: son Terry (TJ) Jnr. and daughter Mary-Jeanne sell their wines to the famous restaurants and wine merchants of the world and Terry’s wife Mary oversees their fine-dining restaurant, Terrôir. Their youngest son David, based in the Phillipines, is also a director.

With them are winemakers who respect the land and embrace the science of viticulture and oenology. Winemakers who are aware whatever the potential of the grapes, the ultimate destiny lies in human hands, which play a decisive role in the vineyard and winery.

Being able to indulge in the wines they love, and the blending of so much talent and passion, gives Terry Peabody and his family the feeling that their dreams are in safe hands.

Director of Wine and Viticulture, Steve Smith is a founder and shareholder of Craggy Range. He has had a distinguished academic, research and commercial career in the wine business since 1980.

As a specialist viticulturist, his research career was spent with Dr Richard Smart, pioneering the new viticultural techniques now used in many regions of the world. He published numerous academic and popular papers during this time and was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Scholarship in 1985 to study grapevine virus diseases in California.  In 1996 he became a Master of Wine, the only specialist viticulturist in the world to have this distinction, now regarded as the pinnacle of academic achievement in the industry. During this time he worked for Villa Maria Estate as Group Viticulturist, playing a significant role in the company’s high quality reputation.

In 1996 Steve was described by Decanter Magazine as one of the 50 most influential people in the world of wine going into the next millennium, alongside Chateau Margaux's Paul Pontallier, Pierre Henry Gagey of Louis Jadot, Moet and Chandon's Richard Geoffroy and Jancis Robinson MW. At that time he also consulted internationally for a number of clients including Rustenberg Estate and Hamilton Russell Vineyards of South Africa. Other personal accolades include a further ranking in the Top 50, this time by the USA’s influential Wine and Spirit Magazine in 2005. For both of these accolades he was the only New Zealander included.