The Craggy Range Les Beaux Cailloux Chardonnay 2021 is a masterful expression of precision, texture, and elegance from New Zealand’s famed Gimblett Gravels. Made entirely from Dijon Clone 95 and farmed organically, this wine reflects both the purity of its fruit and the complexity of its terroir. Aromas of white peach, preserved citrus rind, pink grapefruit, and subtle flinty spice lead into a mouthfilling yet finely etched palate. Layers of bright acidity and pithy phenolics create balance and tension, culminating in a long, savory finish.

The Wine Advocate | RP 96
Published: Sep 21, 2023
Drink: 2023-2046

The 2021 Les Beaux Cailloux Chardonnay is fresh and fruit-driven on the nose but carried by an undercurrent of spicy, toasty, flinty characters. This is mouthfilling, satisfying and pure, laden as it is with curry leaf, white peach, preserved citrus rind and pink grapefruit. The phenolics cast a pithy skein through the fruit. What a classy, superstar wine. Exciting drinking! 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. 2021 was a "normal year" for rainfall and heat. It was cooler in 2021. 2020 was warm, dry and still, and the crops were healthy. 2021 had cooler nights. The 2020 and 2021 wines are distinctly different in terms of their personality and expression: 2020 has power. Everyone loves years like this. 2021 has personality. More complexity and precision. Cooler acid profile. No disease pressure. Picked at 11.5% potential with a wild ferment and whole-bunch pressed, the wine goes to barrel the next day, low solids. This is oxidative winemaking, with full wild malolactic fermentation and no stirring. The wine spends 10 months in oak (33% new), five months on the lees and in stainless steel. 2021 had no herbicide and organic farming. 2020 still had herbicide but was farmed organically. Made with entirely Dijon Clone 95. Planting density is 4,200 vines per hectare (1.8 meters by 1.2 meters) on the Gimlett Gravels.

James Suckling | JS 95
Published: Jan 21, 2024

A racy and fine chardonnay with sliced lightly cooked apple, dried pear and stone aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with a tight and focused palate, and a long and flavorful finish. Bright and precise. Only 100 cases made. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Jancis Robinson | JR 17.5
Published: Feb 10, 2023
Drink: 2023-2028

Very pale. Very pretty nose. Lifted and delicate; rather Chablis-esque. Savoury finish. Long. Lightly chewy. 

Craggyrange.com

“We firmly believe that the wines of New Zealand can have a unique combination of fruit purity and flavour with considerable texture, elegance and balance.” Terry Peabody

And so they settled on the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing district, an ancient river bed of the Ngaruroro River in Hawke’s Bay. The Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, a place of warmth, stone and sandy alluvial soils offered an ideal location to produce high quality red wines including Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. They then took their search to Martinborough, and more particularly, a spectacular piece of farmland in Te Muna Road. With two distinct terraces, the higher comprising of very old rocky clay-infused soils perfect for Pinot Noir. The lower terrace of younger gravelly soils interleaved with limestone allowed for a unique style of aromatic, minerally Sauvignon Blanc.

As the vineyards have matured over the years so have the wines. The winery was recognised in 2014 by renowned US publication Wine Enthusiast as ‘New World Winery of the Year’ with many of the wines also receiving notable accolades and awards.

To ensure a firm commitment, Terry Peabody honoured the original promise to his family of leaving a legacy for the family still to come and established a 1000 year trust, meaning the winery can never be sold.