The Crater Rim
W. J. Coles Successors Ltd is a family-owned boutique winemaking company situated in the rolling hills of North Canterbury, in the South Island of New Zealand. They grow, make and market limited quantities of terroir-specific wines from around the country, in particular the various sub-regions of the Canterbury province, under the brand name of Crater Rim. Wines are produced from contracted sites carefully selected for their particular mix of varietal, topography, soil and microclimate – creating high quality, site-specific wines of individual character and drinkability. They work closely with each grower to ensure that vines are cropped low and managed sustainably, guaranteeing the best quality fruit possible from each vineyard site.
Theo Coles is the winemaker and viticulturalist for Successors. He has travelled the wine world, working vintages in a number of New World and old world regions – including Marlborough at Wither Hills, Bordeaux at the legendary Chateau Leoville Las-Cases, Victoria at Tahbilk, the Rhone Valley at Chateau de St Cosme and Domaine Francois Villard, Alsace at Maison Kuentz-Bas, and Brunello at Tenute Silvio Nardi. Since the 2002 vintage he worked as winemaker at Daniel Schuster Wine, and he is also the Central Otago winemaker for High Plains Wine. Theo’s philosophy in the winery, is based on creating wines of character and quality through a policy of watchful, non-interventionist winemaking. He uses a combination of new and traditional techniques and technology to allow the fruit to become wine. Theo focuses on allowing the vineyard character to shine through to produce complete, balanced and unique wines – this is reflected in Successors’ aim to produce a range of vineyard designated wines.
Crater Rim have had to overcome the twin disasters of a devastating fire in November 2009 and then the Christchurch earthquake a little over a year later. But they have emerged stronger and fitter and the wines continue to please and refresh.
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Waipara South Island New Zealand
Back in stock after a momentary hiatus. From now on the Crater Rim 'Canterbury' Pinot is sourced from basalt soils on the peninsula formed by one side of the 'crater rim' itself of the huge volcano in Waipara. A slightly broader, denser style than the 2009, it is full and long on the finish.
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Central Otago South Island New Zealand
Crater Rim's Central Otago Pinot is a fuller bodied style with a good dollop of oak, but still far from being an oaky fruit bomb. Packed with raspberry fruit and mocha it is very attractive indeed.