“Astonishingly good” NZ Chard & Pinot!
Pyramid Valley is a true cool-climate gem in North Canterbury, situated halfway between the cold ocean on one side and snowcapped mountains on the other. Mike and Claudia Weersing, the founders of Pyramid Valley Vineyards, spent 15 years searching the globe for the perfect location to establish their vineyard. They finally found it in a barren chain of limestone-rich scarps at Waikari in North Canterbury, where they became pioneers of biodynamic practices and high-density viticulture in New Zealand. They produced amazing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for another 15 years until the estate was acquired by Steve Smith MW (previously of Craggy Range) and American billionaire investor Brian Sheth in 2017. The new owners are committed to honouring the founders' vision and building on the authenticity and integrity of the vineyard's origins. To achieve this, they have extended the plantings to the original plans that Mike Weersing first drew up but never had the opportunity to complete. Additionally, they have established operations at the newly acquired Manata Vineyard (formerly Lowburn Ferry) in Central Otago, where they follow the same principles that led to the creation of exquisite wines at the North Canterbury site.
These are truly exceptional wines!
About this wine: Pyramid Valley opened a new chapter of its story in 2018 when it purchased Jean and Roger Gibson’s highly regarded Lowburn Ferry vineyard in Central Otago’s Lowburn sub-region. Already winning national awards by 2003, the site was planted in 2000 on a gentle, north-facing slope with 30% own-rooted vines and a mix of clones—some of the oldest Pinot vines in Otago. A supplement of higher-density Pinot Noir was planted on a lower terrace in 2018 by Pyramid Valley’s biodynamic specialist, Nick Paulin, who lives on and manages the property.
Now renamed Manata, paying homage to a romantic Māori legend of this region, soils are predominantly loess over deep silts that have developed pedogenic lime deposits. 2021 was the final year of organic conversion; as of 2022, the site has been certified organic by BioGro NZ. There are two wines made from this vineyard. The Manata Pinot is a selection of blocks, while a single-parcel Pinot Noir called Snake Tongue now forms part of the Botanical Selection.
“You may think you know New Zealand wines, but I can assure you that until you have tasted Pyramid Valley, you have no idea. The results speak for themselves: astonishingly good, terroir-expressive wines that will challenge all your preconceptions.” Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
“Sometimes you taste a wine for the first time and it’s so fabulous, so new, so different, that you’re overwhelmed by a desire to visit the vineyard where the grapes were grown.” Max Allen, The Australian Financial Review
“Benchmark New Zealand vineyard and wines. If not a yardstick for chardonnay and pinot noir globally. No joke.” Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
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PYRAMID VALLEY NORTH CANTERBURY PINOT NOIR 2021 |
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