In the year 2000, Mike and Claudia Elze Weersing found the patch of earth they’d been searching 15 years for.
With a background in winemaking from Burgundy and vintages of experience from some of Europe’s finest cellars, Mike knew what he wanted in a vineyard site. With Claudia by his side, they set about planting a biodynamic Garden of Eden from the ground up.
They planted four blocks, half Pinot Noir, half Chardonnay, on the slopes of Pyramid Valley in the South Island.
In 2017 the baton was passed to friends Steve Smith (of Craggy Range renown) and Brian Sheth, who took over the ownership of Pyramid Valley, to further develop this extraordinary legacy. One of their first developments was to extend the Pyramid Valley range to a magnificent winery in Central Otago.
These are some of the most compelling and individual wines in all of New Zealand that have deservedly received much critical acclaim.
97 Points Vinous
The 2020 Pinot Noir Angel Flower is a soulful, complex wine that you don’t really want to pick apart. Compared with the Pinot Noir Earth Smoke, which hails from the same small estate, it’s not as obvious and takes longer to get to know. It’s harmonious, round and calming, sitting comfortably in the mouth like a good friend visiting. It’s my job to deconstruct wines, but I feel that to do so would be to destroy them. Pure, elegant, and quiet with a confident but unobtrusive line of acidity and airy-light chalky tannins that envelop the mouth. Rich intensity of sweet strawberry, fruit, fennel, thyme and smoky characters without any sense of heaviness. Initially, you might prefer Earth Smoke for its immediate aromatics, but I’d prefer to spend time with Angel Flower getting to know it. Over three days, I tried to get to the bottom of it but soon realized that might take years. Drink 2023-2035.
96 Points James Suckling
A hint of reduction on the nose blows off to reveal lovely aromas of fresh red cherries, strawberries, rosemary and violet. Then orange peel and fresh mint. Changes all the time. Medium- to full-bodied with silky, tightly knit tannins. Juicy and fresh on the palate. Showing complexity and verve with subtle intensity and length. So pretty right now. This will age nicely. Drink or hold. Screw cap.