2022 Botanicals Collection

Waikari, North Canterbury

Viticulture
Planted from 2000-2002 at 11,111 vines/ha and a second planting in 2018, farmed biodynamically from inception. Steeply inclined, east facing home block. Beautiful soils, with nut and crumb structure and great mineral fertility: 30% clay, 15% active lime.

Winemaking
Crushed and soaked for 2 hours prior to pressing. Wild ferment, in aged French oak barrels. 12 months on lees in barrel, then aged on light lees for 5 months in stainless steel prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered in September 2023.

Tasting notes
Pale lemon straw hue. Mineral complex nose of mandarin, cashew nuts, and crushed limestone. Great depth. Taught, focused flavours envelop the palate. Lemon curd, mandarin peel, nutty flavours unfold. Great length and drive with saline acidity.

Closure
Cork & wax seal

~ 96 POINTS ~
The 2022 Chardonnay from the high-density Lion's Tooth parcel is an arresting wine that sucks you in but doesn’t spit you out. It’s not a wine you'll want to spit out either. This 2022 draws you in with its harmony, expansive nature, silken texture and sense of tranquility. It is subtle in its flavors - this is Chardonnay, after all – with flinty characters giving way to toasted nuts and oatmeal, lemon curd and nectarine. This is not a fruity but savory, restrained style that focused on texture over aromatics. Meditation for the mouth.
- Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous

Tasting Note

NB. This stock will carry a US market back label.

Waikare, North Canterbury

Viticulture
Planted between 2000-2002 at 11,111 vines/ha and a second planting in 2018, farmed biodynamically from inception. This unique, south-east facing site has varied soils, graduating from top to bottom on the slope, through primarily shallow (10-15cm) glauconitic clays over well drained limestone.

Winemaking
Crushed and soaked for 4 hours prior to pressing. Wild ferment, in aged French oak barrels. 12 months on lees in barrel, then aged on light lees for 5 months in stainless steel prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered in September 2023.

Tasting notes
Green lemon hue. A complex nose of minerals, flint, lemons, and limes. The palate is taut yet rich, with concentrated flavors reminiscent of lime and samphire. Fine, compact phenolics frame the wine and drive a long, mineral finish. This wine always reminds me of line and length—like train tracks stretching into the distance.

~ 96 POINTS ~
Expansive, succulent white of depth and concentration with pretty lift and complexity from jasmine florals, warm straw, hazelnut and button mushroom savouriness amongst the mandarin, ginger, lime, green apple going on. The supple flow stretches luxuriously through the palate and finishes with a light, building chalky pucker. It’s such a chilled out white, but so much is going on. And gosh it drinks beautifully.
- Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

Tastings Note
Latest Reviews

The story of our Botanicals Collection is rooted in the foundations of our Waikari Estate in North Canterbury. The initial plantings were arranged by Mike and Claudia Weersing 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. Interestingly, the meadow growing in each parcel was also different, with different species of meadow plants being present. These parcels have been named according to the dominant botanicals in the meadows from their beginnings as a vineyard in 2000, and since their release in 2006 they have created a new dimension for fine New Zealand wine, illustrating the incredible impact of this remarkable vineyard on the sense of wine.

They are wines that truly breathe of their place.

Secure your collection of the 2022 Waikari Botanicals Release, presented in a stunning custom-made display case.

Inclusion:
1 x 2022 Field of Fire Chardonnay
1 x 2022 Lion's Tooth Chardonnay
1 x 2022 Angel Flower Pinot Noir
1 x 2022 Earth Smoke Pinot Noir

Limit of one presentation case per order.
Presentation case only available for New Zealand delivery. International orders are packed in wool hero wine packaging suitable for international shipping.

The Botanicals Collection represents the pinnacle of our achievements at Pyramid Valley.

Their story is rooted in the foundations of our Waikari farm in North Canterbury. The initial plantings were arranged by Mike and Claudia Weersing 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. Interestingly, the meadow growing in each parcel was also different, with different species of meadow plants being present. These parcels have been named according to the dominant botanicals in the meadow from their beginnings as a vineyard in 2000, and have always been vinted as highly individual wines. Each wine is named after the common colloquial name of the meadow plant dominant in its respective vineyard block and each wears a wonderful piece of Patricia Curtan botanical art reflecting this plant.

Included:
1 x 2022 Lion's Tooth Chardonnay
1 x 2022 Field of Fire Chardonnay
1 x 2022 Angel Flower Pinot Noir
1 x 2022 Earth Smoke Pinot Noir
1 x 2022 Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir