Ages of Ata Rangi (with sonic accompaniments)
Pairing mature vintages of one of New Zealand’s greatest Pinot Noirs with music
Just as mature Pinot Noir is all about texture, finding music with an appropriate timbre is paramount when matching older vintages of the variety. Being soft and refined, eschew the likes of harsh bombastic brass, and opt for smoother and soft timbred music with fluid melodies and more minimalist arrangements. I’ve selected some tracks to go with my personal highlights from Ata Rangi’s fascinating tasting of its flagship Pinot Noir between 1994 to 2019 that I attended late last year. In the next post, winemaker Helen Masters will also match her favourite vintage from the lineup with a track she considers appropriate.
I was incredibly lucky to try these wines, which are now hard to come by. However, the sonic guidance for pairing the general characters of these Pinots at different stages in their development can be applied to other mature examples of the variety. So next time you’re looking to match some music with a special older Pinot, you can still bear these tips in mind when making your selection.