2022 Pyramid Valley North Canterbury Chardonnay

96 POINTS

Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

A gorgeous expression; the complex bouquet shows apricot, rockmelon, lemon peel, almond meal and savoury pastry aromas. It's impressively concentrated and plush in the mouth, delivering multi-layered mouthfeel and awesome depth, wonderfully framed by finely pitched acidity.

96 POINTS

Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

A gorgeous expression; the complex bouquet shows apricot, rockmelon, lemon peel, almond meal and savoury pastry aromas. It's impressively concentrated and plush in the mouth, delivering multi-layered mouthfeel and awesome depth, wonderfully framed by finely pitched acidity.

95 POINTS

James Suckling

This is extremely well-made, with sliced dried apples, apple tart, flint and matchstick as well as a hints of smoke. It’s medium-bodied with lovely fruit and a light bitterness that gives complexity and presence.

94 POINTS

Mike Bennie - The Wine Front

A cool and wet growing season, it seems to be for 2022. Expect strong minerally and tightly strung wines from this vintage. Mainly from 1983 and 1991 plantings of Mendoza clone gear – the Springs Vineyard the main source. Has stacks of flavour and lots of personality. Great waves and slosh of red apple, gingery spice, just-ripe nectarine, honey nut Cornflakes, sugared almonds and a strong, almost Champagne like rapier thrust of saline minerality. Whoosh! That draw and tuck of brine is just awesome and so refreshing, and so much pretty flesh and flavour hangs off it. A very complete and compelling wine.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

Pretty combination of fresh fruit and hints of wood fermentation and aging. Full and layered, with a texture that shows structure and brightness. Long and very flavorful.

94 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2022 North Canterbury Chardonnay is expressive and exotic on the nose—there are dried herbs and exotic spice, layers of dehydrated orange peel, graphite, white pepper, hints of yellow peach, flakes of sea salt and shaved fennel. In the mouth, the wine is rich and sapid; it penetrates deep into the palate and stains it with flavor. It holds a tight line of restraint and is a pleasure to behold. It’s satisfying and detailed. The wine went through 100% malolactic fermentation. “We're basically waiting for the acidity to drop before we pick it, so we get total acidities of 10 and get to do full malo,” says winemaker Huw. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Comparing this to the 2021, this is saline and crystalline, with crushed shells and saline acidity. A svelte wine.

93 POINTS

Christina Pickard - Wine Enthusiast

This strikes a lovely balance between richness and brightness, combining smoke, nut and toast characteristics with lemon curd and white peach. Acidity is mouthwatering, buoying the textural weight, fruit and oak influence. This is a smart wine that could age nicely over the next five to eight years.

Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous

The 2022 Chardonnay North Canterbury is a lithe, lively expression. Youthful yet savory, it displays a flinty character alongside hazelnut-like oak flavors, followed up with a salty, firm finish. Tension and sinew run through this wine. It's not quite the intense and long as the 2021, but it's still very well handled.