Editors notes
Biodynamic. Named after the type of grass growing in the vineyard, this densely planted Chardonnay site sits on a southeast-facing, clay-limestone slope, which has been farmed biodynamically from the beginning. Although recently expanded by one hectare, the original plantings cover only a quarter of a hectare. Like its three sibling vineyards, it’s a vineyard farmed to Grand Cru Burgundy standards or higher. Fire is a cooler, rockier site than the Lions Tooth vineyard, and the wine typically shows a tighter, mineral core cloaked by layered, complex and fleshy fruit.
Details
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Wine Type
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Aroma
- Apple
- Lemon
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Palate
- Apple
- Cream
- Peach
Food Pairings
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Critic Scores & reviews
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Huon Hooke
97""Bright, light yellow colour with a little cloudiness - obviously unfiltered. An utterly extraordinary nose; fabulously complex and gorgeously smoky-mineral, imbued with various spice and fruit aromas, high-quality oak and a little matchstick-reduction, but the combination of aromas is sensationally multi-faceted and hugely inviting. The wine is no less impressive in the mouth: tightly focused and high-acid, tremendously detailed and refined, with a long-lasting aftertaste. This is more Chablis-esque than the Lion's Tooth. A smashing wine.""
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James Suckling
94""Ripe nose of baked apricot, grilled pineapple and cooked mango with some salted almonds. Medium-to full-bodied with tangy acidity and a buttery, toasty palate. Rich and intense. Drink now.""
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Mike Bennie
96"Steve Smith and co continue the custodian roles of the amazing Pyramid Valley vineyards sites. The wines feel more primped and preened in their current guise, not a bad thing, just a different thing, though the DNA of the site perpetuates the hallmark energy and freshness. Serene chardonnay in cruise control. No hair out of place. Flint, citrus, light floral characters, sea spray in scents and flavours. A glossiness to texture then fine, talc-mineral powdery pucker and chew before the tart, mouth-watering finish drags things out to infinity. Refined, great velocity, so very precise but an ease and mellifluous nature to it all that has such drinkability in tow. It’s a wine that delivers supreme chardonnay personality albeit polished to the nth degree, which ain’t a bad thing in many circles. Drink 2021 - 2035."
Other vintages
Love this wine? Here's a list of other vintages we have in stock if you'd like to try them as well.
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- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2020
- Brand Pyramid Valley Vineyards
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type White
- Alcohol Percentage 14.0% Alcohol
Pyramid Valley 'Fields Of Fire' Chardonnay 2020-
Huon Hooke97 points
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James Suckling94 points
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Mike Bennie96 points
$155.00
Current auction
All current auctions for this wine & any different vintages.
Locations
New Zealand
The New Zealand wine industry is one of the younger wine regions in the world, whose popularity grew immensely when Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc hit the world wine scene, quite unique in style when compared to the typical French Sancerre.
Wine is successfully cultivated on both the North and South islands from a latitude of 36 degrees in the North to 45 degrees for the most southerly wine region in the world, the South Island's Central Otago. The majority of regions are located in free-draining alluvial valleys except for Waiheke Island and Kawarau Gorge in Central Otago and benefit from the moderating effect of the maritime climate as no vineyard is more than 80 miles from the ocean. With plentiful sunshine hours and cool evening sea breezes, the grapes thrive.
Sauvignon Blanc is the major white variety people will think of when you mention New Zealand Whites, however fantastic Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and less commonly Viognier, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Blanc. Pinot Noir is the most widely planted red variety in New Zealand although Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (Bordeaux Blends), Syrah are also grown and in even smaller amounts, Tempranillo and Montepulcianos can too be found. Sparkling wines of very high standards are also made in New Zealand.
The key wine regions in New Zealand include Auckland, Canterbury, Central Otago, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Nelson.
Canterbury
Waipara is located only 40 mins north of Christchurch city, the capital of the South Island. It is the fastest growing wine region in all of New Zealand with over 1,200 hectares across 80 vineyards already planted. The region receives certain protections from cool easterly winds in the form of the Teviotdale hills, which still allows the warmer northerly winds in.
The region has three general sites; the valley floor, the river terraces and the hill slopes. Across the region the main red variety grown is Pinot Noir, followed by the white grape Riesling, both of which are very suited to the gravelly, limestone derived clay soils in the region. Other whites grown include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Chardonnay. Waipara can lay claim to having the highest summer temperatures, and the lowest overall rainfall of any wine growing region in the land.
"Canterbury's stunning Waipara region is one of the unsung heroes of the wine industry" - Bob Campbell MW.
About the brand Pyramid Valley Vineyards
The home vineyard has been established according to rules that Mike grew to respect and inherently to trust during his time studying and working in Burgundy: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay have been planted, on clay-limestone soils on scarp slopes, at a density of 10,000-12,000 vines per hectare. The vineyard has been biodynamically managed from inception.
Each block is planted to reflect a specific soil type hence the somewhat irregular looking blocks. In total there are only 2.2 hectares planted in 4 separate blocks. The differences in taste reflects the soil and climatic differences between each block, which is never more than 400 metres at most. Each block and variety is vinified separately but identically in a mixture of old oak and clay amphorae so the outside influences on the grape are minimised.
The blocks themselves were named by Claudia after the weed varieties predominant in each, which also reflect the different soil. The Angel Flower is a more exposed block, north facing that reflects a lightness, delicacy and an ethereal scent. The Lions Tooth with its golden dandelions and obvious lime rich soil shows a rich golden colour with a toasty sulphite nose. The Earth Smoke is a heavier clay, with a denser, wild, gamey outcome. The Field of Fire slopes away to an eastern aspect and into the heaviest clay and makes typically a green-hued delicate wine.
Pyramid Valley Vineyards are fully certified Bio dynamic. And so are their cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, dogs , cats and vineyard family all of whom share in the journey of Bio dynamics and benefit from the gifts it gives.
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