Pyramid Valley North Canterbury Chardonnay 2022

Pyramid Valley North Canterbury Chardonnay is a regional Chardonnay built on old-vine Mendoza fruit from Waipara.

Waipara Springs does most of the work again, with its old Mendoza vines rooted in Omihi clay, but the 2022 also carries one barrel of first-crop Chardonnay from the estate's organic Lowburn farm in Central Otago, a nice marker of where the company is heading. Hand-harvesting ran several weeks later than the year before. Fermentation was on indigenous yeasts, and maturation was split between French oak with 20 per cent new and concrete tulips holding 40 per cent, for twelve months, then four months settling on light lees in concrete. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. James Suckling scored it 95 points.

Flinty and classy, with savoury cashew, dried apple and apple tart over ripe stone and citrus fruit, a light bitterness giving grip and a saline thread to close. Serve at 12 degrees with roast chicken, pork belly or grilled john dory.

*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.