Pyramid Valley Lion's Tooth Chardonnay 2022

Pyramid Valley Lion's Tooth Chardonnay is a single-block biodynamic Chardonnay from the estate vineyard at Waikari.

Dandelions colonise this vineyard, dent-de-lion in French, which is where the name comes from, and they do it because the clay here runs higher, around 30 per cent, over the same limestone bedrock found across the property. The slope is steep and east-facing, on soils credited with a nut and crumb structure and real mineral fertility. The original 0.4 hectares date from 2000 at 11,111 vines per hectare, and nearly nine-tenths of this wine comes from them. Picked on 28 April after a long, cool La Niña hang, the fruit soaked two hours on skins, fermented naturally in old French barrels, then spent twelve months on light lees and five in tank.

Powerfully built but nuanced: grapefruit, toasted nuts, flint and orchard fruit over dense, driving acidity. Cellar-worthy. Serve at 12 to 13 degrees in a large glass. Roast chicken, lobster with butter, or a mushroom and gruyère tart.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.