A taste of Ata Rangi: Jenkins’ pick of the range
Craftsmen of terroir, leading the way in one of Spain’s most revered regions.
1 Ata Rangi, Masters Chardonnay 2021 93
atarangi.co.nz
A little more upfront and generous than the 2020, but with the same nutty/white peach profile, and minerally-savoury persona. A flick of pink grapefruit reduction here, too. Palate has a taut, citrussy style, bright acidity and good concentration and length. Needs more time to properly open up and relax. Drink 2024-2032 Alcohol 13%
2 Ata Rangi, Potiki Chardonnay 2021 92
atarangi.co.nz
A slight change in emphasis from the
2020, a cooler expression with more obvious citrus notes on the nose, plus sizzled butter, nuts and a hint of oak spice. Lithe and silky, lemony fresh, perhaps just a touch less concentrated than the 2020 but that’s being picky. Drinking nicely now, no great hurry. Drink 2024-2030 Alc 13.5%
Ata Rangi, Masters Pinot Noir 2020 95
£94.99 Liberty Wines
Very upfront with lots of spice and florals (this wine is winemaker Helen Masters’ ‘Negroni’), but there’s a savoury, quite brooding presence beneath it all – forest floor and bloody meat. Complete and consistent from start to finish, this is not a big wine but it has plenty of presence. Dry, structured finish, very long. 65% whole bunch. Drink 2024-2035 Alc 13.5%
Ata Rangi, Pinot Noir 2020 94
£71.99 Fortnum & Mason, Mann Fine Wine, Noble Green, NY Wines
Very perfumed and pretty, with orange blossom, cloves and lots of bright fruit – more red than black. An earthy spiciness emerges with time in the glass. Quite taut across the palate with delicacy and finesse that belies the concentration (and exuberant nose). Fine silky tannins and a good build to the finish. A baby. 40% whole bunch. Drink 2024-2035 Alc 13.9%
3 Ata Rangi, Pinot Noir 2019 94
£67.99 Hedonism, Mann Fine Wine, Philglas & Swiggot, The Wine Reserve
Bright and lively, with red fruits, Campari spice, earth and a lovely floral lift. Youthful and very compact in structure, this is still fairly shy but with a juicy core of fruit and a delicate thread of firm tannins. Needs time to open up, but this is sure-footed and supple, with plenty of concentration and length. Drink 2024-2035 Alc 13.5%
Ata Rangi, Abel Old Vines Pinot Noir 2019 93
atarangi.co.nz
A much more buttoned-down nose; sweet hay but not the usual florals. Subtle cherry, blackberry, redcurrant notes, dark cocoa, earthy, very compact with a firm, dry and concentrated palate. Light on its feet but there’s no mistaking the tannin backbone. Good length. Not as immediately expressive as the Estate, but seems just as complex. Drink 2024-2035 Alc 13.5%
4 Ata Rangi, Kotinga Pinot Noir 2020 93
£94.99 Liberty Wines, Winesquare
Kotinga is the most free-draining of the single vineyards. More earth, spice and a darker fruit profile than the Estate. In many ways an archetypal Martinborough Pinot. Generous black cherry/strawberry-rich palate with structured tannins and bright acidity keeping it fresh. A Campari-like twist on the long finish. 40% whole bunch; aged in foudre. Drink 2024-2035 Alc 13.7%
5 Ata Rangi, McCrone Pinot Noir 2020 92
£94.99 Liberty Wines, Winesquare
Paler than the Masters and Kotinga. A pretty, perfumed nose with lovely orange blossom notes. The palate is fine and silky, but its ripe-fruit core has a distinct savoury edge and it’s more structured than the nose suggests. Quite sappy tannins need a touch more resolution – the whole-bunch element (40%) is more obvious in this wine than the other 2020s. Drink 2024-2035 Alc 14%
As one of the founding producers of DO Ribera del Duero, Linaje Garsea remains at the region’s forefront. The family-owned estate – established in 1888 in the province of Toledo and now with its third generation at the helm – is a true pioneer of the renowned DO, having led the way by focusing on terroir diversity and low intervention winemaking.
Distinctive terroirs
The character of Linaje Garsea’s wines is very much shaped by the distinctiveness of its terroirs. In Valdecobos, one of the appellation’s most renowned internal valleys, Linaje Garsea’s vines grow on mineral-rich clay soils, delivering fruit with incredible balance between freshness and aromatic power.
In Aranda, on the other hand, the vineyards surrounding the producer’s winery, planted along the River Duero on alluvial soils, deliver deeper expressions of Tinta del País (the local expression of Tempranillo). Handled carefully in the cellar – with minimal SO2 additions, natural fermentations and only light filtrations – the fruit is allowed to carry its full expression into the bottle.
A modern interpretation
A total of 71 hectares, all estate-owned, provide the raw material for Linaje Garsea’s modern interpretation of Ribera del Duero, at the intersection of tradition and innovation. While positioning itself as one of the region’s leading wineries, Linaje Garsea does so in an unpretentious and approachable way, seeking to make the uniqueness of its terroirs and the excellence of its winemaking available to all. Linaje Garsea Crianza is perhaps the most representative of the winery’s labels – an approachable, modern yet classic example of Ribera del Duero. The winery has been able to consolidate its position among professionals and consumers alike by offering the winning combination of quality alongside value. Its Crianza is the epitome of this balancing act.
Accomplished vintages
Meanwhile, the most exclusive of Linaje Garsea’s creations is the Archangelus Gabrighel collection, a triptych of Tinta del País wines, yielded by the same vintage and plots (a selection of sites at least 60 years old) aged in oaks of different origins: American, Spanish and French.
Linaje Garsea also offers a library of particularly accomplished back vintages – such as 2004, 2009 and 2010 – that show how the producer’s wines can still display Tinta del País in full splendour many years on. Building on complexity and nuance, they retain a vibrant fruit core and tannic poise that reflect both its ethos and the essence of Ribera del Duero.
Linaje Garsea’s wines demonstrate its expertise at capturing the spirit of the region, which can be fully experienced at its onsite hotel and asador (an institution in its own right) too. The winery invites guests to immerse themselves in the history and terroir that have shaped its identity.
Discover more https://linajegarsea.com/