2022 Pyramid Valley Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir

98 POINTS

James Suckling

Fragrant and floral with smoke, cranberries, and spices such as white pepper. It starts off slowly and builds with dried strawberries, light caramel, cloves and dried flowers. Firm tannins, yet they open in your mouth and caress your palate. Very, very classy. Pure Abel clone. Goes on and on.

96 POINTS

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

Medium-deep colour with a good tint of purple and a rich spice and dried-herb bouquet of considerable detail, leading into a rich palate with impressive depth and intensity, the fruit concentration matched by ample tannins that dry the finish and enhance length and structure. Serious pinot noir

96 POINTS

Christina Pickard - Wine Enthusiast

With a bit of aeration in glass, this singe site Pinot, from a tiny block in Central Otago offers an enticing combo of aromas: ground cloves, black pepper and bay leaf weave between blueberry and cherry preserves and violets. There's a whisper of something earthier, meatier, below. It's delicate, gliding over the tongue like satin, nothing out of place. Savory tannins are supple and extremely well integrated, spotlighting the plump fruit and spice. Could age gracefully, but it's so elegant wine and complete now, it'd be a hard wait.

94 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2022 Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir won't be released until October 2024, so this is definitely a pre-release tasting, but it’s a wonderful insight into what is to come. There’s petrichor, asphalt, graphite, black tea, satsuma plum, cherry flesh and red apple skins. This has the tannic density of the 2021, but there is far more restraint and delicacy in the fruit profile. I love the way this performs in the mouth, with dried ginger, blood orange, red pepper, a hint of sesame seed and orchard fruit. A superb wine of presence and delicacy. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

94 POINTS

Dave Brookes - Halliday Wine Companion

Lowburn Terrace pinot noir from the Mānatu vineyard. Mid-crimson with red plum and dark cherry fruits cut with spice, citrus blossom, dried orange peel, amaro herbs, pressed wildflowers and crushed rocks. Sleek, savoury and red-fruited on the palate with layers of fine spice and some distant game and amaro tones; tannins super-fine and chalky and a bright, minerally cadence.

93 POINTS

Mike Bennie - The Wine Front

The second release of this wine. From the lower terrace on the Lowburn, Central Otago plantings of Pyramid Valley/Lowburn wines – Manatu Estate is the name of the property. It’s a fleshy, deeply flavoured pinot noir with an elegant bent under its more muscular frame. Dark choc-raspberry, liquorice, cranberry, aniseed, some garam masala spice elements, a bit of warm game meat and some rosy, rose hip tea elements. The wine quite grippy and drying in tannin, a little new leather-meets-river-pebble feel here. Bold and savoury hand-in-hand, though the dryer frame may challenge some for expectations.

93 POINTS

Mike Bennie - The Wine Front

It’s a fleshy, deeply flavoured pinot noir with an elegant bent under its more muscular frame. Dark choc-raspberry, liquorice, cranberry, aniseed, some garam masala spice elements, a bit of warm game meat and some rosy, rose hip tea elements. The wine quite grippy and drying in tannin, a little new leather-meets-river-pebble feel here. Bold and savoury hand-in-hand, though the dryer frame may challenge some for expectations.” 93 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

91 POINTS

Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous

The 2022 Pinot Noir Snake's Tongue is an unadulterated, broody red. It straddles the divide between sweet fruit and savory characters. While light on its feet, it is succulent and suave. There's certainly a comforting texture to sink your teeth into, which may be down to Central's loamy soils and naturally rich fruit. Wild herbs and smoky cedar linger on the balanced, drawn-out finish.