2023 Botanicals Collection Release

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
Whole bunch pressed and transferred to barrel without settling. Wild ferment, in an aged French oak barrel. 12 months on lees in barrel, then aged on light lees for 5 months in barrel prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered in August 2024.

Tasting notes
Lemon straw hue. Mineral, complex nose of flint, toast, marscarpone, mandarin peel, orange blossoms and cashew nuts. Great depth. Concentrated, focused flavours envelop the palate with bursts of acidity and a phenolic breadth this site always delivers. Lemon curd, mandarin, ocean mist, toasted nuts and creme brulee flavours unfold. Great length and drive with saline acidity.

Closure
Cork (Diam Origine 10) and wax seal
The 2023 vintage also brings a change to closure, with all the Botanical Collection wines now sealed with a cork closure, Diam Origine 10. This cork guarantees freedom from cork taint, is bound together by natural beeswax compounds, and has consistent elasticity which guarantees a proper seal with each bottle. The bottle is also finished with a wax cap. This will be our closure for all following vintages, providing customers with real confidence in cellaring and honours the natural luxury idea that sits behind the Pyramid Valley brand.

~ 94 POINTS ~
The 2023 Chardonnay Lion's Tooth is young and tightly wound, with a clarity of cool climate fruit. While there's a sense of tenderness, a feature of dry whites grown on chalky soils, it is bone dry with a sense of savory forcefulness. Citrus, apple and a distinct salinity shine with subtle oak-derived hazelnut characters.
- Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous

Tasting Note

Waikari, North Canterbury

Viticulture
Planted between 2000-2002 at 11,111 vines/ha and farmed biodynamically from inception. A beautiful, very steep, north-facing block. Coarse, shallow soils that enhance the aromatics; 20% clay, 3-7% active lime.

Winemaking
Carefully hand sorted, fully destemmed and fermented with wild yeasts using infusion methods for 25 days. Settled in tank before being transferred to French wooden barrels. Elevage of 18 months, then bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Tasting notes
Bright ruby hue. Expressive floral nose of rose petals, dried herbs and summer berries, gravelly savouriness, the complexity leaps out of the glass. A finely detailed palate that is mineral and savoury, and a hint of iodine, with flavours of berry compote and fresh sour cherries. A fine, grainy structure and an understated power drives the wine, resulting in a long, subtle finish.

Closure
Cork (Diam Origine 10) and wax seal
The 2023 vintage also brings a change to closure, with all the Botanical Collection wines now sealed with a cork closure, Diam Origine 10. This cork guarantees freedom from cork taint, is bound together by natural beeswax compounds, and has consistent elasticity which guarantees a proper seal with each bottle. The bottle is also finished with a wax cap. This will be our closure for all following vintages, providing customers with real confidence in cellaring and honours the natural luxury idea that sits behind the Pyramid Valley brand.

~ 94 POINTS ~
The 2023 Pinot Noir Angel Flower is dense yet elegant, with the natural tension of its site restraining its fullness to maintain focus and poise. The 2023 offers an understated nose, concentrated flavors of red cherry and rhubarb and resonant woody herbs on the long, sinewy finish. Light, chalky tannins and fresh acidity meet to provide texture and pull in this soulful New Zealand Pinot.
- Rebecca Gibb MW, Red Wine Report

Tasting Note

Lowburn, Central Otago

Viticulture
From the Snake’s Tongue parcel planted in 2007 at our estate in Lowburn, Central Otago. 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 de-stemmed to maintain a high percentage of whole berries. Fermented using wild yeasts in open top Nico Velo concrete tulipes for 26 days. Aged in French barrels for 12 months, 30% new oak, then blended and aged for a further 6 months in oak prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Tasting notes
Bright garnet hue. Complex florals, five spice, gamey, spiced plums, cherries, cloves and wild thyme, quite an alluring nose. On the palate, concentrated flavours of mineral, iodine, spiced plums, thyme and game meats. The mouthfeel is plush and silky, with a juicy, evocative structure and a savoury saline finish.

Closure
Cork (Diam Origine 10) and wax seal
The 2023 vintage also brings a change to closure, with all the Botanical Collection wines now sealed with a cork closure, Diam Origine 10. This cork guarantees freedom from cork taint, is bound together by natural beeswax compounds, and has consistent elasticity which guarantees a proper seal with each bottle. The bottle is also finished with a wax cap. This will be our closure for all following vintages, providing customers with real confidence in cellaring and honours the natural luxury idea that sits behind the Pyramid Valley brand.

~ 94 POINTS ~
The 2023 Pinot Noir Snake's Tongue is a remarkably fragrant wine, with a strong floral burst giving way to raspberries, blackberries, red cherries and mint. You could spend a long time just sniffing it. This is supple and sensitively made, generous but not weighty, with fine, succulent tannins and gently refreshing acidity on the calming finish. Though young, the 2023’s gentle structure makes it enjoyable from the off and for a decade beyond. 
- Rebecca Gibb MW, Red Wine Report

Tasting Note

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 2023 Lion's Tooth Chardonnay
1 x 2023 Field of Fire Chardonnay (US Label)
1 x 2023 Angel Flower Pinot Noir
1 x 2023 Earth Smoke Pinot Noir
1 x 2023 Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir

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 2023 Waikari Botanicals Release, presented in a stunning custom-made display case.

Inclusion:
1 x 2023 Field of Fire Chardonnay (US Label)
1 x 2023 Lion's Tooth Chardonnay
1 x 2023 Angel Flower Pinot Noir
1 x 2023 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.