The 2020 Le Sol Syrah from Craggy Range is a refined and complex wine, with aromas of blackberry, raspberry, licorice, clove, and subtle hints of orange peel and black tea. On the palate, it is silky and full-bodied, with cascading flavors of dark fruit, spice, and a long, elegant finish. The wine shows incredible poise and structure, with a smooth texture and a lingering aftertaste of blackberry and blueberry. Fermented with 60% whole bunch, it matured in large French puncheons, adding depth and complexity. It’s a standout wine, offering immediate enjoyment and excellent aging potential.

The Wine Advocate | RP 96+
Published: Sep 21, 2023
Drink: 2023-2050

The 2020 Le Sol is open and attractive on the nose, with layers of blackberry, raspberry, hints of licorice and clove, a whiff of orange peel, black tea and pencil shavings. In the mouth, the wine is silky and full; it expands without being heavy. The flavors cascade and tumble over each other as they reach for the long and elongated finish. It's an incredibly classy, structural, detailed wine of poise and presence. Blackberry and blueberry are distinctly etched into the aftertaste. We know these wines age with grace and eloquence, but it is also wonderful on release. It is worth waiting for, if you are of the patient persuasion. If not, go forth; you won't be disappointed. It fermented with 60% whole bunch and spent 30 to 40 days on the skins (depending on the fermenting vat). This assists with texture. Overextraction is not a problem given the low alcohols. It matured in French puncheons and larger format (Stockinger 2,400 liters). 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 95
Published: Sep 2, 2022

Bright and glossy with subtle and elegant spices, with more red and blue fruit than black. Diffusive and chalky tannins dwell upon the red cherries and plums on the palate, with white pepper and flowers in the streamlined, linear finish. Quite engaging now, but can hold, too.

Decanter | D 95
Published: Aug 24, 2022
Drink: 2022-2030

One of two Craggy Range wines to join the Place de Bordeaux this year alongside the Pinot Noir-based Aroha. Meaty and wild, a sense of roasted meat, smoky and deliberate with a balsamic element too. Bay leaf, cooking herbs and some graphite touches - lots of expression. A full and bold style, but so juicy and succulent, really sucks the cheeks in, makes the mouth water with strawberry, red cherry, plum and raspberry fruit. It's smooth and penetrating but it has such a lovely crushed velvet texture, slightly chalky but full of life and vigour. I like this expression, feels vibrant but also with quite a lot of tension at this point. Nice detail on show in the smoke and florality but all very soft letting the vibrancy show through at this point.
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 13.50%
Body: Medium
Grapes: 100% Syrah/Shiraz

Craggyrange.com

Le Sol (French: the soil) is born of the renowned Gimblett Gravels viticultural appellation, with its gravelly soils attracting the sun in summer and insulating the vines in winter. The vines are planted in the stoniest parts of the vineyard to a heritage clone of Syrah brought to New Zealand in the 1840s. Intensively hand managed, the grapes reveal a deep dark Syrah with purple hues. Le Sol is always aromatically pure with a luscious yet elegant mid-palate and a distinctive fine tannin finish.