Community Tasting Notes 4

• HowardNZ wrote: 94 points

  August 12, 2022 - A bottle consumed over three evenings during which it did not change. Under screwcap. I will not repeat the descriptors in my 2021 note. The key to the Chardonnay is the vibrant, razor-like - but not at all ragged or rough - acidity. Ideally hold until 2024+.

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• acyso wrote: 93 points

  June 9, 2022 - Bodegas Tradicion et al. (Chicago, IL): A very impressive chardonnay; far less affected by reduction than the much more readily available Kumeu River wines. I like that this has ripeness to the palate, and that it's not just a pile of acidity, even though this definitely has a lean, mineral chardonnay profile. I would be very interested to taste an example of this with more bottle age.

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• HowardNZ Likes this wine: 94 points

  December 31, 2021 - Tasting the 2019 Pyramid Valley Botanicals (Wellington, NZ): One pour only. At first a whiff of flinty reduction that moved into wet granite minerality with fine lemon citrus and a touch of grapefruit, crunchy green apple and greengage, nectarine and white meadow flowers. A precise, direct and ‘cool’ bouquet. On palate, chalky minerals and vibrant, energetic acidity. The fruit is Meyer lemon, grapefruit, pear and some crisp Granny Smith apple. Layered and complex. Driven and linear. Finishing long, dry and gravelly. Relatively approachable and very enjoyable now – elegant and refined with the acids in good proportion to the fruit – I think it ideally should be drunk from about 2024. At the tasting I preferred the Field of Fire over the Lion’s Tooth. However, I had the impression there were potentially more elements to come together in the Lion’s Tooth and in a few years my preference might change. On the day, 94+.

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• HowardNZ Likes this wine:

  December 28, 2021 - 2019 Visit to North Canterbury, NZ: 2019 barrel tasting. Hand picked and foot stomped. Just over a barrel of this cuvée. Sample from a one year old barrel. Reduction, chalky minerality, pear, white peach, zesty lemon and white florals on the nose. Lovely citric vibrant acidity on palate. Very pure and clean. River gravelly minerality with some wet limestone. Direct, linear and long, finishing dry. Excellent cool climate Chardonnay. On this small pour, preferred over the Lions Tooth.

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Pro Reviews 5

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2019
• Type White
• Producer Pyramid Valley
• Varietal Chardonnay
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard Field of Fire
• Country New Zealand
• Region South Island
• SubRegion Canterbury
• Appellation Waipara

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 16 (94%)
• Consumed 1 (6%)

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