Pyramid Valley Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020

$65.00

I tasted this wine on days 2 and 3 as well to learn about its development potential. Turned out to be a good idea with the most complex aromas alongside scents of the variety and region showing best on day 3. Flavours of black cherry and baked raspberry, there’s a fine stony mineral quality and layers of red flowers and barrel spice. Tannins are abundant and fine adding volume and texture. Acidity locks flavours and textures into place spreading its voice across the palate carrying flavour and finesse along the way. Delicious, taut, youthful and dry with excellent length. camdouglasms.com

 

This is from two parcels, the first located in the Lowburn sub-region on a gentle, north facing slope with 30% own-rooted vines and a mix of clones. Blessed with some of the oldest vines in Central Otago, the vineyard was founded by Roger and Jean Gibson, and today is owned and managed by Pyramid Valley. Soils are predominately loess over deep silts that have developed lime deposits. The site has been in organic conversion since Pyramid Valley took the reins in 2018, and was Biogro-certified earlier in 2022. The second parcel is in the Bannockburn subregion. The fruit was hand-picked and naturally fermented in open-top fermenters with 15% whole bunches and an extremely gentle infusion regime. It was aged in 25% new French barrels for 12 months before settling and aging in tank for a further six months.

 

Shop ALL Pyramid Valley Wines

Out of stock

Producer:
SKU: PYV005-20 Categories: ,

Additional information

Producer

Grape Variety

Region

Country

Vintage

Size

Pyramid Valley

In 2000, after what must have seemed like an interminable search via Burgundy and back, Claudia and Mike Weersing found just the slice of heaven they were after on New Zealand’s South Island. From the very beginning the vineyard has been biodynamic and the wines crafted with absolute attention to detail and minimal winemaking influence.

North Canterbury is cool and, unlike much of the South Island, stays cool which very much defines the wines. Oak is used widely, mostly old, imparting only subtle flavour and tannin. Amphorae is also widely used, which enables a shorter maturing time and the preservation of freshness, part of Pyramid Valley’s signature style. Additions, well there are none, save for the life preserving gift of sulphur.

Friends Brian Sheth and Steve Smith bought and took over the property in 2017 and this has seen a shift in style towards transparency, purity, intense flavours and invigorating freshness. The wines have become more high toned and mineral, the fruit fresher, more tangy than sweet.

The richest wine is the Central Otago Pinot Noir – lavish and curvy, but with a chiseled refinement unmatched in the region, except for Rippon. Vibrant, intense, chiselled, high-toned, with precise layers of texture, minerality, umami, flowers, spices and herbs. The tannins are long, savoury and fine and very present, framing the wine and balanced with the wine’s naturally high acidity.

Pyramid Valley now releases three collections annually. The emblematic, 100% estate Botanical Collection is released on allocation each year. The Appellation Collection sees Pyramid Valley working with a roster of exceptional growers in North Canterbury and Central Otago. This collection is the Pyramid Valley’s negociant arm – a vital part of this project, with the aim to create a set of wines that share the same sense of somewhereness as the wines from the home vineyard. Finally, the Colours Collection comprises the Sauvignon+, Orange and Rosé.

Pin It on Pinterest