Pyramid Valley Chardonnay North Canterbury 2020

Stuart McCloskey, 31 October 2025 “A wine that I could spend the rest of my life with. Jamie’s (Goode) description ‘This is profound’ is not an exaggeration… This is genuinely a special Chardonnay and shines a bright light on the holistic principles of biodynamics, which the winery follows. Working with the energy of the cosmos and feeding the soils and ecosystem of the site to let nature work her wonders translates into a sublime Chardonnay. It’s one of those rare wines that gives you goose bumps. The bouquet unfurls to buttered popcorn, flint, camomile, beeswax, quartz, confit lemon, lemon thyme, pear, sweet spice, orange blossom, freshly grated ginger, it’s packed with white florals, and finished with a waft of freshly baked bread. Texturally, this is pitch perfect - Sumptuous, silken, and broad shouldered. This feels extravagant, but the breeding is of the finest level. Self-assured, packed with density, concentrated - Anointed by a genius. Buttered orchard and stone fruits cling to every facet of the palate – I love the viscosity however, there’s plenty of acidity (tempered, mind you) to provide exquisite balance. Wines of this quality, and at this price level are rare. Please treat yourself to one bottle as wines like these remain forever engraved in one's memory. Don’t waste a drop – lick the glass clean. Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware. Do not overchill and please serve in a large, bowled glass. Small and narrow will not deliver the results. Sublime today and will continue to offer hedonistic pleasure for at least a decade.”

Raymond Chan 19+ / 20 April 2023 “Bright, pale straw yellow, even colour throughout. This has an enticing, rich bouquet filled with smoky flint, stonefruit, citrus underlined almond and pastry. Medium-full bodied, aromas of nectarine, lemon, grapefruit and zest show focus and concentration, and the creamy palate unveils smoky flint, almond and bitter orange. The mouthfeel is smooth with a refined chalky texture; gutsy acidity carries the wine to linearity. This sophisticated, rich Chardonnay tantalise the palate with acid tension, spice, complex minerals and a citrus core. Sourced from almost 40-year-old vines in Waipara's original heritage vineyard, own-rooted, handpicked, whole bunch pressed, fermented with wild yeasts to 14.5% alc, aged for 18 months in French oak before bottling, unfined & unfiltered.”

Matthew Jukes November 2022 “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”

Jamie Goode “This is exclusively from the old Waipara Springs vineyard. Mineral and expressive with lovely intense citrus and pear fruit, as well as a hint of pineapple. There is some matchstick minerality, too. This is profound”