Pyramid Valley Springs Chardonnay 2022

Pyramid Valley Springs Chardonnay is an old-vine Waipara Chardonnay raised without added sulphur.

Forty-year-old own-rooted Mendoza vines on Omihi clay are the entire source, in a vineyard Pyramid Valley has leased and farmed without synthetic inputs since 2019. These are almost certainly the oldest Chardonnay vines in the country. What makes the site work is shelter: the Teviot hills block the cool easterly that funnels through Waipara, and the warm midsummers and dry growing season that follow are rare in North Canterbury. The 2022 was stomped by foot, fermented spontaneously with high solids in French oak and left twelve months on full lees with no sulphur, then racked and blended to concrete tulips for another six months on fine lees.

Umami-driven, so salty and nutty and flinty, with compact stone fruit and a tight vertical line more northern European than antipodean, coiling into the finish. Twelve degrees, in a big glass. Serve with roast pork, grilled crayfish, or mushrooms on sourdough.

*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.