“Elegant yet unrestrained in its wildness.” - Vinous, 95 points

“Phenomenal” - Matthew Jukes, 18 points

We asked Pyramid Valley’s owner, Steve Smith, what he thought of the 2020 vintage and his eyes immediately lit up (there’s something about a genuine smile that you just can’t fake and a lot of it can be seen in the eyes). He told us, however, that it was a vintage that almost didn’t make it into the bottle, because, in case you need reminding, 2020 was the year of the Covid pandemic, and New Zealand was under one of the strictest lockdowns. The only people allowed in the winery were Huw, the winemaker, and his sister, but they didn’t have a team to pick the grapes, because the rules required everyone in a contact group to be in a bubble and that’s not easy with itinerant workers! By chance, a group of Argentine friends were stranded in New Zealand, unable to get home due to the restrictions, and Steve persuaded them to pick the harvest, as they were in their own bubble, and the harvest was saved.

Thank goodness for that! It’s a beautiful vintage for this wine, drenched in sweet, perfumed Pinot Noir fruit; silky and sensual, with soft tannins and although it’s relatively light in body, it has great intensity of flavour. As well as the cherry, raspberry and pomegranate notes, there are exotic spice and wispy smoke elements that add further intrigue. We picked up a parcel at a great price and are passing on the saving to you, as we always do. It would normally be closer to £40 a bottle. 13% alc. Drink now-2024.

Press reviews:

Matthew Jukes: "This wine draws on fruit from three properties, all in Waipara. Again, this is a texturally phenomenal wine. Steve and Huw don’t like fining, so there is buoyancy and traction here that breeds stunning weight and a modicum of fruit exoticism. Any exuberance is tempered by raspy, saline acidity that snaps the palate back to order, makes the mouth water and balances the pliant fruit perfectly. This cunning acid line allows this wine to play with more fruit weight and depth than might ordinarily be the case." 18 points

Vinous: “The 2020 Pinot Noir North Canterbury evokes wild bilberry and red fruits with lifted wild herbs. Elegant yet unrestrained in its wildness, light in body yet with excellent intensity. The tannins are fine-grained, mouth-coating and almost chalky; there’s a sense of roundness from clay-rich soils while having focus. Drink now-2031“ 95 points

Jancis Robinson: “Complex aromas – meaty and smoky. Elegant, velvety tannins and bright acidity beautifully integrated into the pure black-fruit core. The evident oak will integrate more with another two-to-three years in the bottle. Drink now-2035.” 16.5+ points

Jamie Goode: “Floral, fresh and expressive with black cherry on the nose, together with some dried herb notes. Very inviting. The palate is supple and juicy with red cherries and raspberries, showing nice acidity and fruit purity. Has a fine, tart finish.” 94 points