Jamie Goodie, on his www.wineanorak.com website, June 2011:

Pyramid Valley Vineyards Angel Flower Pinot Noir 2008 Canterbury
10% whole clusters, warm ferment, 12 000 vines/hectare. Pale in colour and slightly cloudy, with wonderfully pure, sweet aromatics of sweet cherry fruit with hints of fudge sweetness and warm herbal notes. The palate is super-smooth and textured, showing sweet fruit and real elegance. Incredible texture here, with very fine structure. It’s a wine that is alive and quite thrilling. 97/100

Tom Cannavan, on his www.wine-pages.com website:

Pyramid Valley, Kerner Pinot Blanc 2009
From the Kerner vineyard in Waihopi Valley in Marlborough, very nice, subdued, herb and softly oatmeal nose, has that lovely umami savour and dryness, with quite a full, sweet palate, lots of tang and vibrancy, the 15g/l of residual sugar adding sweetness but it has a plump, vibrant personality. 91/100.

Pyramid Valley, Rose (Late Harvest) Riesling 2008
Fabulously aromatic, fabulously toasty and exotic, with a beautiful kerosene background note and slippery, beautifully sweet palate cut by that grippy, phenolic finish. Lovely clarity and length here, lemon rind and orange grip and freshness. 91-92/100.

Pyramid Valley, Calvert Pinot Noir 2008
From Central Otago, Felton Road farm it and the fruit is split into three parcels that go to Felton Road, Pyramid Valley and Craggy Range. Beautifully soft, medium, with meaty and gamy notes, a lovely floral and kirsch-like top note and the palate has great clarity too. There's a softening edge of sweet vanilla, and still a precision to the acidity and tannin of the finish. 91/100.
Pyramid Valley, Angel Flower Pinot Noir 2009
North facing, limestone. Lots of whole berry fermentation. Pale coloured again. Wonderfully rich truffle and sous-bois quality, with earth and ripe red berries. There's coffee and strawberry, and there's a mineral saltiness that gives this lovely grip and tension. 92/100.

Pyramid Valley, Earth Smoke Pinot Noir 2009
Earth smoke has more clay over limestone. Very pale and orangy and quite hazy. The nose has definite streak of minerality, with fantastically complex herbal, leathery, with a bit of tight, almost liquoricy edge. On the palate this has a delightfully lean, focused palate. There's a lemony clarity to the fruit, and nicely judged acidity along with really tight tannins. Finesseful and long. 92/100.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown in the Wine Advocate, October 2010:

“Receiving 15% whole cluster and aged 15 months in French oak, 33% new, on original lees, the 2007 ‘Eaton Family Vineyard’ Pinot Noir has a medium ruby color. There’s a funky/wild character on the nose over aromas of warm strawberries and raspberries, game, earth, forest floor, loam, truffles and a whiff of dried herbs. Very crisp and tight in the mouth, this medium-full bodied Pinot gives a medium level of silky tannins with great flavor concentration and a long layered finish. Drink it now to 2015+.” 92+ points

“Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2008 ‘Calvert Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from a vineyard based in Bannockburn and is managed by Felton Road. With the inclusion of 25% whole cluster and having been matured 14 months on original lees in 25% new French oak, it gives intense aromas of black cherries, warm raspberries, some earthy loam and moss plus nuances of cinnamon and coffee. Full bodied with crisp acid and a low to medium level of fine tannins, it finishes long and savory with some menthol coming through. Drink it now to 2015.” 91 Points

“Pyramid Valley’s 2008 ‘Kerner Estate’ Pinot Blanc is just sensational. Resulting from a wild yeast fermentation in old oak that lasted 10 months, the nose is a little mute to begin but give it a few moments and fragrant notes of spiced pears, warm apples and toast begin to appear with an undercurrent of white blossom and dill seed. The full bodied palate is rich with apple and stone fruit flavors plus a silken texture with crisp acid to enliven and a long creamy finish. Delicious now, it should open with a further 6 months in bottle and I’m imagining it will develop a pleasant nutty/toasty character, drinking through 2014+.” 92 points

“Fifteen percent of the 2007 ‘Riverbrook Vineyard’ Riesling was late picked, noble rot affected fruit. It has a moderately pronounced, complex nose of lime juice, honeysuckle, wet pebbles, musk and grapefruit with a whiff of white pepper. Light bodied, this is a medium-dry style possessing 20 grams per liter of residual sugar and 12.5% alcohol. The finish is very long, chalky and a little funky. Drinking now, it should cellar to 2016+.“ 91 points

Stephen Tanzer, in the International Wine Cellar, September 2009:

2008 Calvert Pinot Noir: "Full medium red. Complex, enticing aromas of cherry, raspberry, gunflint, spices, herbs and smoky minerality. The palate offers fat, sweet pinot red fruits complicated by chocolate and minerals. The smoky quality carries through to the plush, generous finish, which features a fine dusting of tannins and excellent persistence. I'm not sure this has the verve to support extended cellaring, but it's already abundantly sexy wine." 91 points

Huon Hooke, in the Sydney Morning Herald, August 2010:

"Best Import, Pyramid Valley Kerner Vineyard Pinot Blanc, Marlborough 2008: Deliciously different. Honeysuckle, floral and mineral aromas. Delicate, crisp, and charming flavour, clean and dry to finish, and not over-sweet - like so many Marlborough whites. 92/100."

Joe Czerwinski, in the Wine Enthusiast, June 2010:

"Pyramid Valley's 2008 Earth Smoke Pinot Noir is like few other New World Pinot Noirs. It's delicate and finely wrought, with sinewy cherry and herb flavors and silky tannins that impart great elegance to the wine. While other New Zealand Pinot Noirs display Burgundy-like attributes, this one tastes positively Burgundian, in a relatively light bodied, Côte de Beaune sort of way."

James Halliday, in the Weekend Australian, March 2010:

"2007 Pyramid Valley Eaton Family Vineyard Pinot Noir: Mike and Claudia Weersing are still the only growers in the limestone-rich Pyramid Valley north of Christchurch, having begun to plant their biodynamic micro-vineyard in 2000. This is one of their Growers Collection series from Central Otago and (in this case) Marlborough; 9600 bottles were made. It is an exquisitely perfumed wine with red flowers and violets, the texture of brocade silk, the palate pure, fine and extremely long." 96 points

Tyson Stelzer, on his webzine Glass - Clear About Wine, February 2010:

"When it comes to winegrowing, Mike Weersing is one of the most articulate souls you will ever meet. His exacting approach flows through every detail of his vineyard and winery. Last year he hand-destemmed all of the fruit from the home vineyards. Ten tonnes, apparently a world record. With that kind of attention, even eight-year-old vines can perform miracles. This is gorgeously complex wine with all manner of theatrics - exotic spice, stone fruits, flower garden, savoury herbs and sous bois (French forest floor). For all of its antics, this is a very elegant, pure wine with super-fine structure. When you're tired of run-of-the-mill wine, this is the bottle that will re-energise you." 96 points

Stephen Tanzer in the International Wine Cellar, September 2009:

2007 Angel Flower Pinot Noir: "Good deep, bright red. Captivating nose offers raspberry, rose petal, smoky earth and flinty minerality. Densely packed and quite complex, in a less fruit-driven style than the Riverbrook, but downright sexy. A broader and more saline wine, with the energy and definition that comes from limestone. Savory, broad and tactile, with palate-saturating persistence. Fascinating soil-driven pinot, especially recommended for fans of biodynamic wine." 93 points

Bob Campbell, on BobsWineReviews.com:

2008 Calvert Pinot Noir: "One of a trio of wines made from an equal share from one vineyard by three producers; Felton Road, Craggy Range and Pyramid Valley. They are all excellent wines in remarkably different styles. This seems earthier and slightly more rustic than the others (I have yet to taste them together) although it has similar dark cherry and spice flavours. Sweet and silken fruit with a lengthy finish." 93 points

John Hawkesby, in The Weekend Herald, January 2010:

2007 Howell Family Cabernet Franc: "Hawkes Bay grapes off aged vines. Usual Weersing style - unfiltered, unfined. Gutsy, forward fruit style with piercing spice and lovely floral nose. Great length."

Matthew Jukes in Decanter, November 2009:

2007 Calvert Pinot Noir: "There is more drama in this wine than a caseful of Vosne-Romanee, because the tempo and passion is there to witness in every molecule of its being. This interpretation of Calvert is sensational and moving: it pulls you into its vortex and leaves you ravaged and panting for more when it's gone." 18.5 points

S. Irene Virbila in the Los Angeles Times, October 7, 2009, Wine of the Week:

2007 Calvert Pinot Noir: "Pinot Noir can be tricky in New Zealand. One sip of the 2007 Pyramid Valley Calvert Vineyard Pinot from the Central Otago region, though, and I was convinced. What a terrific Pinot! It has everything going for it: deep-flavoured fruit that tastes of dark cherries and earth; a good structure and velvety tannins; and that quality hardest to find, character. You would be hard-pressed to find a Burgundy this good at this price. Save a bottle for a special occasion. Serve it with wild mushrooms, game birds, braised meats and gratins. Keep an eye out for Pyramid Valley's Eaton Family Pinot Noir as well."

Anthony Rose in The Independent, October 2009:

2007 Eaton Family Pinot Noir: "Pyramid Valley is a tiny winery in New Zealand making excellent pinot noir, and its 2007 Eaton Vineyard Pinot Noir, is a model of intensely flavoured mulberry and loganberry-filled fruit."

John Bonne in The San Francisco Chronicle, December 26, "2008's Most Memorable Wines":

2006 Hille Vineyard Semillon: "Mike Weersing's project is turning out some of the most characterful wines in New Zealand, but even for the staunchly geeky, this Semillon is more an erudite pleasure than anything. But its herbal, mysterious profile was so compelling that I ran out to buy a bunch."

Stephen Tanzer in the International Wine Cellar, September 2008:

2007 Eaton Family Pinot Noir: "Good full red. Sappy aromas of red cherry, strawberry, blood orange, graphite and spices. Densely packed and sweet, with an urgent, sappy quality to the lush red fruit and licorice flavours. A fairly full and pliant style with excellent stuffing. Finishes with suave tannins and excellent length." 91 points

2007 Hille Semillon: "Slightly hazy appearance (this is bottled without fining or filtration). Candied yellow fruits, light herbs and spices on the scented nose. Intensely flavored and spicy on the palate, with a note of marzipan adding complexity to the fleshy candied fruit and spiced pear flavors. Very sappy and aromatic on the long, vibrant finish, with a sexy oak component providing further interest. This Semillon-based wine does not belong in this article, but it was too intriguing to leave out." 90 points

[ Return to top of page ]