Editors notes
Biodynamic. Angel Flower is a cooler, more exposed block than Earth Smoke. The shallow soils and north-facing aspect here result in a more floral and aromatic wine, although the weight and shape of the palate have much in common with Pyramid’s other single-site Pinot. The team have also recently planted a little Chardonnay on these soils, recognising its potential as a great white wine terroir.
Details
-
Wine Type
-
Vintage
-
Variety
-
Brand
-
Location
-
Cellaring
-
Closure
-
Alcohol Percentage
-
Bottle Size
-
Oak Type
Tasting Profile
-
Light (Light)Full (Full)
-
Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
-
Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
-
Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
-
Aroma
- Earthy
- Herbal
- Red Fruits
-
Palate
- Cedar
- Red Cherry
- Strawberry
Food Pairings
-
Fish -
Game -
Poultry
Critic Scores & reviews
-
Mike Bennie
94"Steve Smith and Brian Sheth, with vineyard man Huw Kinch, are the continuation of the brilliant Mike and Claudia Weersing vision at Pyramid Valley. Beautiful, honest wines came from the first two decades at PV and the currency is strong in the continuation, albeit through a different lens. Some of the PV pinots could be pretty wild, loose knit, nourishing and soft in feel, and there’s familiarity here although the screws have been tightened and the gloss is rubbed on. Scents of stewed cherries, game meat, fennel/anise, bergamot tea, bay leaf. Savoury, for sure. The wine sits sappy and sour-sweet fruited in the palate, it fans out beautifully, it feels satiny before the gummy, pleasingly bitter tannins build through the lingering finish. It’s lively and perky, fragrant and fresh. There’s some echoes of the wilder, idiosyncratic and expressive releases of PV’s past, but here we find slickness and a neater wine. It’s good. Drink 2021 - 2030."
-
James Suckling
95""A complex nose with aromas of red berries, raspberries, orange rind, dried flowers and sweet spices. Light-to medium-bodied with vivid acidity. Juicy and crunchy with fresh, mineral character. Transparent, elegant and delicate with a long, succulent finish. More open, with hints of cedar and wood that add complexity. Drink or hold. Screw cap.""
-
Huon Hooke
90""Medium to full red, with just a suggestion of purple in the rim and a little turbidity, a more forward (or high-pH) colour than the Earth Smoke, with a slightly blackish tinge. The bouquet is full of wild cherry, smoke, spices and earthy-stony mineral notes. Dried plums and cherries too; a hint of stewed rhubarb. It's complex; the same combination greets the palate, with overtones of smoked and dried meats as well as dried mushrooms. A slight flatness on palate; it lacks vitality. Not nearly as convincing as the Earth Smoke—the high pH shows. ""
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.
-
- Variety Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2020
- Brand Pyramid Valley Vineyards
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 13.5% Alcohol
Pyramid Valley Angel Flower Pinot Noir 2020-
Mike Bennie94 points
-
James Suckling95 points
-
Huon Hooke90 points
$150.00 -
- Variety Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2015
- Brand Pyramid Valley Vineyards
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 14.0% Alcohol
Pyramid Valley Angel Flower Pinot Noir 2015-
Raymond Chan Wi19 points
-
James Suckling96 points
-
Michael Cooper4.5 points
-
Bob Campbell MW93 points
$160.00
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.
You May Also Like
Customer Reviews
Write Your Own Review