Tasting the 2019 Pyramid Valley Botanicals (Wellington, NZ): One pour only. The later-picked Earth Smoke has a deeper, darker fruited bouquet. Red and black cherries, spices, garrigue and violet perfumes. Intense on palate with lovely lacy, filigreed, supple tannins. Flavours in the darker berry and cherry spectrum with dried herbs, minerals, savoury nuances and some earth. The sense of more mouth presence and structure than with the Angel Flower but with similar fresh, focussed acidity. Good length. Open and enjoyable now, I sense upside with a few years in the cellar (2025+). Overall, 94.
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2019 Visit to North Canterbury, NZ: 2019 barrel tasting. 100% destemmed. Harvested a week after the Angel Flower. Two barrels, both older. Noticeably darker colour. A contrast on bouquet. In the darker berry and cherry spectrum with touches of clove and hints of violet and other dark florals. On palate, a richer, fuller expression with more power, structure and drive. Still, similar intense, focussing acidity to the Angel Flower. Very suave, fine grained tannins. Lovely mouthfeel. Good length. Preferred on the day.
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12/31/2021 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasting the 2019 Pyramid Valley Botanicals (Wellington, NZ): One pour only. The later-picked Earth Smoke has a deeper, darker fruited bouquet. Red and black cherries, spices, garrigue and violet perfumes. Intense on palate with lovely lacy, filigreed, supple tannins. Flavours in the darker berry and cherry spectrum with dried herbs, minerals, savoury nuances and some earth. The sense of more mouth presence and structure than with the Angel Flower but with similar fresh, focussed acidity. Good length. Open and enjoyable now, I sense upside with a few years in the cellar (2025+). Overall, 94.
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12/28/2021 - HowardNZ Likes this wine:
2019 Visit to North Canterbury, NZ: 2019 barrel tasting. 100% destemmed. Harvested a week after the Angel Flower. Two barrels, both older. Noticeably darker colour. A contrast on bouquet. In the darker berry and cherry spectrum with touches of clove and hints of violet and other dark florals. On palate, a richer, fuller expression with more power, structure and drive. Still, similar intense, focussing acidity to the Angel Flower. Very suave, fine grained tannins. Lovely mouthfeel. Good length. Preferred on the day.
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