Allergic-Info: This wine can contain sulfites
yr. 2016 Tom Cannavan:
92 of 100 Points.
"Tom Cannavan" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2016 on 01.01.2020 with 92 of 100 points.
"(2020) The blend is 58% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon - plus 1% Petit Verdot. It spent 18 months in French oak barrels. Meat and graphite, touches of bloodiness and game, melt into black fruit. On the palate the citrus acidity and juicy, tight tannins give a long, quite firm finish."
yr. 2011 Falstaff:
93 of 100 Points.
"Falstaff" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2011 on 01.05.2014 with 93 of 100 points.
"Dunkles Rubingranat, fester Farbkern, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. Blättrig, tabakig unterlegtes rotes Waldbeerkonfit, ein Hauch von Cassis und Lakritze, mit feiner Kräuterwürze unterlegt. Stoffig, extraktsüße Kirschenfrucht, gut integrierte Tannine, bereits harmonisch, frisch und animierend, sollte noch eine Zeitlang auf der Flasche reifen, dunkle Mineralik im Nachhall."
yr. 2011 Tom Cannavan:
93 of 100 Points.
"Tom Cannavan" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2011 on 01.01.2014 with 93 of 100 points.
"(2014) >From New Zealand's red wine heartland of the Gimblett Gravels in Hawkes Bay, this Bordeaux blend is smoky, spicy, very nicely meaty and gamy, with lots of quality, older French oak aromas and a certain gamy depth. A big, powerful wine, with a welter weight of tannin, dry and filling the mouth, but then the lovely fruit quality is there too, with masses of dry extract but not at all inky or over done - this has life and a persistent energy to the fruit, with creaminess of the oak filling-in on the finish, lovely balance and very long. A serious, delicious wine now, but obvious cellaring potential."
yr. 2004 Tom Cannavan:
92 of 100 Points.
"Tom Cannavan" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2004 on 01.01.2007 with 92 of 100 points.
"(2007) 12 months in French oak, then blending, then back into oak for a further 8 months. Fine, very polished Sandalwood and cedar nose. Lovely fudgy depth, with licks of dark chocolate. Lots of spice and ripe, sweet black fruit. Very dry, juicy, palate-filling richness of fruit. Fine, silky tannins, with lots of chocolate and ripe fruit. Good acids, but this is all about quality of fruit and wood integration. Lovely quality here. Poised and elegant."
yr. 2016 Wine Enthusiast:
89 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2016 on 01.07.2019 with 89 of 100 points.
yr. 2016 The Wine Front:
96 of 100 Points.
"The Wine Front" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2016 on 01.11.2018 with 96 of 100 points.
yr. 2015 Wine Spectator:
92 of 100 Points.
"Wine Spectator" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2015 on 01.10.2018 with 92 of 100 points.
yr. 2015 Wine Enthusiast:
88 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2015 on 01.01.2018 with 88 of 100 points.
yr. 2015 The Wine Front:
95 of 100 Points.
"The Wine Front" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2015 on 01.07.2017 with 95 of 100 points.
yr. 2014 Wine Enthusiast:
91 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2014 on 01.01.2017 with 91 of 100 points.
yr. 2013 Bob Campbell:
98 of 100 Points.
"Bob Campbell" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2013 on 01.08.2016 with 98 of 100 points.
yr. 2014 Bob Campbell:
95 of 100 Points.
"Bob Campbell" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2014 on 01.08.2016 with 95 of 100 points.
yr. 2014 The Wine Front:
94 of 100 Points.
"The Wine Front" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2014 on 01.05.2016 with 94 of 100 points.
yr. 2013 Jeannie Cho Lee:
91 of 100 Points.
"Jeannie Cho Lee" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2013 on 01.10.2015 with 91 of 100 points.
yr. 2011 Wine Enthusiast:
91 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2011 on 01.01.2015 with 91 of 100 points.
yr. 2011 Wine Spectator:
90 of 100 Points.
"Wine Spectator" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2011 on 01.06.2014 with 90 of 100 points.
yr. 2010 Wine Enthusiast:
91 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2010 on 01.01.2014 with 91 of 100 points.
yr. 2011 Bob Campbell:
95 of 100 Points.
"Bob Campbell" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2011 on 01.06.2013 with 95 of 100 points.
yr. 2009 Jeannie Cho Lee:
87 of 100 Points.
"Jeannie Cho Lee" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2009 on 01.09.2012 with 87 of 100 points.
yr. 2010 Bob Campbell:
95 of 100 Points.
"Bob Campbell" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2010 on 01.06.2012 with 95 of 100 points.
yr. 2009 Wine Spectator:
91 of 100 Points.
"Wine Spectator" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2009 on 01.06.2012 with 91 of 100 points.
yr. 2009 Wine & Spirits Magazine:
93 of 100 Points.
"Wine & Spirits Magazine" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2009 on 01.02.2012 with 93 of 100 points.
yr. 2009 Wine Enthusiast:
92 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2009 on 01.01.2012 with 92 of 100 points.
yr. 2007 Wine Enthusiast:
92 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2007 on 01.01.2010 with 92 of 100 points.
"The bulkiness that characterized earlier vintages of this Merlot-based blend has been tamed in this vintage, and the 2007 is a remarkably harmonious, elegant blend of ripe cherries, dried spices, chocolate and cedar. Supple tannins fade gracefully on the finish. Drink now?2018."
yr. 2005 Wine Enthusiast:
90 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2005 on 01.01.2008 with 90 of 100 points.
"Full-bodied, lush and velvety, this Merlot-based blend from winemaker Steve Smith, MW, features aromas and flavors of smoke, roasted coffee and black cherries underscored by plummier notes. Finishes with dark chocolate flavors and a touch of warmth."
yr. 2002 Wine Enthusiast:
92 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2002 on 01.01.2005 with 92 of 100 points.
"Roughly two-thirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Franc, this dense, plummy wine is New World all the way, with incredibly ripe fruit that approaches chocolate fudge wedded to sexy hints of coconut and vanilla. Yet the wine is balanced and structured, with lush, chewy tannins that demand a couple of years' cellaring. Tannic on the finish, but the fruit shines through. Imported by Kobrand."
yr. 2004 Wine Enthusiast:
90 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2004 with 90 of 100 points.
"Shows all the intensity you could want from a New Zealand Merlot (there's justCab Franc andCab Sauvignon in the blend), but seems to be in a bit of an awkward stage right now. Back in June it showed great finesse and elegance to go with its power, but tasted again in September it seems chunkier, with some rough edges of wood and alcohol poking out. Try in 2009."
yr. 2016 Wine & Spirits Magazine:
88 of 100 Points.
"Wine & Spirits Magazine" has rated the wine "Craggy Range Sophia Merlot" from the vintage 2016 on 01.10.2020 with 88 of 100 points.
