Pyramid Valley

The initial plantings at Pyramid Valley’s Waikari farm were arranged according to specific minute changes in soil composition between the unique limestone and clay particles. These changes reflected the decision to plant either Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.

In Central Otago, the verification applies to our Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir from our Manata Vineyard. Here, deep in the soil granules of rare paedognic lime lie, creating a high pH environment not unlike the genuine limestone of Waikari.

Viticulture

0.7ha of Abel clone meticulously farmed to the highest standard in its third year of organic conversion producing stellar fruit. Soils are predominantly loess over deep silts that have developed pedogenic lime deposits.

Winemaking

25% whole bunch with the remainder gently destemmed to maintain a high percentage of whole berries. Fermented using the natural yeasts from the vineyard and winery in an open top concrete tulipe fermenter for 21 days. Aged in 500L puncheons for 12 months, 25% new oak, then blended and aged for a further 6 months in oak prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Tasting notes

Complex, alluring nose of rich ripe plums and wild thyme gives a depth and warmth to the aromas that envelop. Plush flavours of ripe rich fruits and spices. The mouthfeel is plush and silky with a velvety texture that holds the intense fruit together. A wine that speaks of this very special piece of land.

The initial plantings at Pyramid Valley’s Waikari farm were arranged according to specific minute changes in soil composition between the unique limestone and clay particles. These changes reflected the decision to plant either Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.

The Oritain Trustmark verifies that your bottle of Pyramid Valley 2020 Lion’s Tooth Chardonnay is the genuine article, grown in the clay and limestone-rich soils of the specific vineyard block it is named after.

Viticulture
Planted between 2000-2002 at high density of 11,111 vines/ha and farmed bio-dynamically from inception, Lion's Tooth is a steeply inclined, 0.4ha block on east-facing, limestone-clay slopes with great mineral fertility. 30% clay, 15-20% active lime.

Winemaking
Foot stomped and whole bunch pressed. Vineyard yeast ferment, aged in French oak barrels. 20 months on lees in barrels, then aged on light lees for 6 months in stainless steel prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered in June 2022.

Tasting notes
Golden straw colour with a bright Meyer lemon hue. Sunny aromas, with nectarine and buttercup sitting amongst the mandarin, ripe lemon and fresh cashew nut. Immediately open and concentrated on the palate, grilled stonefruit, lemons, marscapone, flowering thyme, oatmeal biscuit and distinctive grilled cashew nut; richness is ever present then becomes confined by the feel of limestone chalkiness and salt.

This unique site of altitude, limestone, slope, rock and rich soil is home to some of the most profound wines in the world. No other site on earth produces chardonnay quite like this.

The initial plantings at Pyramid Valley’s Waikari farm were arranged according to specific minute changes in soil composition between the unique limestone and clay particles. These changes reflected the decision to plant either Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.

The Oritain Trustmark verifies that your bottle of Pyramid Valley 2020 Angel Flower Pinot Noir is the genuine article, grown in the clay and limestone-rich soils of the specific vineyard block it is named after.

Viticulture
Planted between 2000-2002 at high density of 11,111 vines/ha and farmed bio-dynamically from inception, Angel Flower is a steep, 0.7ha north-facing block of coarse, shallow limestone-clay soils. 15% clay, 5-10% active lime.

Winemaking
Carefully hand sorted, fully destemmed and fermented with yeasts from the vineyard, gently fermented using infusion methods for 21-27 days. Settled in tank before being transferred to French wooden cuves and barrel. Elevage of 18 months, then bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Tasting notes
Moderate red cherry, clear and bright in the glass. Haunting aromas that are difficult to place, cherry pastries, wild forest in the summer, red clover, lavender fields. Autumn raspberries, early season red cherries, blood orange, hints of clove and nutmeg, and the warmth of summer berries, pastry and a savoury twist from the forest; long graceful and powerful; the consummate iron fist in a silk glove; sensational.

This unique site of altitude, limestone, slope, rock and rich soil is home to some of the most profound wines in the world. No other site on earth produces Pinot Noir quite like this.

The initial plantings at Pyramid Valley’s Waikari farm were arranged according to specific minute changes in soil composition between the unique limestone and clay particles. These changes reflected the decision to plant either Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.

The Oritain Trustmark verifies that your bottle of Pyramid Valley 2020 Earth Smoke Pinot Noir is the genuine article, grown in the clay and limestone-rich soils of the specific vineyard block it is named after.

Viticulture
Planted between 2000-2002 at high density of 11,111 vines/ha and farmed bio-dynamically from inception, Earth Smoke is an expansive 0.8ha block on east-facing, limestone-clay slopes with strong, beautifully structured soils. 25% clay, 15% active lime.

Winemaking
Carefully hand sorted, fully destemmed and fermented with yeasts from the vineyard, gently fermented using infusion methods for 21-27 days. Settled in tank before being transferred to French wooden cuves and barrel. Elevage of 18 months, then bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Tasting notes
Moderate black cherry colour, present and brooding in the glass. A deep, dark feel to the aromas, brooding black cherry and dark plum, pure and comforting, orange, Christmas cake spices, hints of warm, damp forest earth, precise and compelling. Lovely warm, ripe black cherry pastry feel on the palate, open and delicious kept in its place by wonderful savoury, sappy nuances, a hint of charcoal and vanilla; dense and long with no hint of sweetness just immaculate ripeness and the feel of clay and chalk. An iron fist in a velvet glove. Incredible.

This unique site of altitude, limestone, slope, rock and rich soil is home to some of the most profound wines in the world. No other site on earth produces Pinot Noir quite like this.

The initial plantings at Pyramid Valley’s Waikari farm were arranged according to specific minute changes in soil composition between the unique limestone and clay particles. These changes reflected the decision to plant either Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.

The Oritain Trustmark verifies that your bottle of Pyramid Valley 2020 Field of Fire Chardonnay is the genuine article, grown in the clay and limestone-rich soils of the specific vineyard block it is named after.

Viticulture
Planted between 2000-2002 at high density of 11,111 vines/ha and farmed bio-dynamically from inception, Field of Fire is a tiny, 0.3ha southeast-facing block with slightly variable, graduating soils, primarily clays over chalky limestone. 20-25% clay, 5-10% active lime.

Winemaking
Foot stomped and whole bunch pressed. Vineyard yeast ferment, aged in French oak barrels. 20 months on lees in barrels, then aged on light lees for 6 months in stainless steel prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered in June 2022.

Tasting notes
Golden straw colour with a matt Lisbon lemon hue. Complex medley of grapefruit peel, pine nuts, oatmeal, delicate white flowers and early summer meadow, constrained only by its youth. Cool, racy, almost pure fresh lemonade juice intensity fills the early palate; steel, saltiness, then more mouth-filling with lemon curd, hazelnuts and an almost sourdough maltiness; finishing long with visions of the sea and grapefruit pith. A sensational expression unique to this place and this vintage.

This unique site of altitude, limestone, slope, rock and rich soil is home to some of the most profound wines in the world. No other site on earth produces Chardonnay quite like this.