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Overview
The 2022 Pyramid Valley Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir 750ml is an elegant and site-driven Central Otago Pinot Noir produced from organically farmed vineyards in Bendigo, New Zealand. Crafted under Pyramid Valley's minimal-intervention philosophy, this limited-production wine beautifully expresses the distinctive character of its vineyard, combining vibrant fruit purity with savoury complexity and mineral precision.
Sourced from a 0.7-hectare block planted to the Abel clone, Snake's Tongue is a refined expression of Central Otago Pinot Noir. Its balance of fragrant aromatics, silky texture and impressive structure makes it a compelling wine for both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring.
Vintage Conditions
The 2022 growing season in Central Otago provided excellent conditions for producing Pinot Noir of exceptional purity and concentration. Warm days, cool nights and the unique loess-over-silt soils of the Bendigo subregion allowed the fruit to develop remarkable flavour intensity while retaining freshness and natural acidity.
The resulting wine captures the vibrancy, elegance and mineral character that define both the vintage and this distinctive vineyard site.
Product Highlights
| Attribute |
Details |
| Producer |
Pyramid Valley |
| Wine |
Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir |
| Vintage |
2022 |
| Region |
Central Otago, New Zealand |
| Subregion |
Bendigo |
| Country |
New Zealand |
| Variety |
Pinot Noir (Abel Clone) |
| Viticulture |
Organically Farmed |
| Volume |
750ml |
| Cellaring |
Now–2038+ |
| Style |
Elegant Medium-Bodied Pinot Noir |
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Bright ruby red with youthful crimson hues.
Aroma
An alluring bouquet of black cherry, ripe plum and wild strawberry is complemented by dried thyme, violet, warm spice and subtle earthy nuances, creating an aromatic profile of impressive lift and complexity.
Palate
Light to medium-bodied with beautifully pure dark berry fruit, silky tannins and vibrant natural acidity. Plush flavours of cherry, blackberry and savoury spice are supported by fine mineral tension and earthy complexity, delivering remarkable balance and precision.
Finish
Long, fresh and finely textured, with lingering dark fruit, wild herbs, subtle spice and a graceful mineral finish that reflects the unique Bendigo terroir.
Winemaking
The fruit was sourced from a 0.7-hectare organically farmed Abel clone vineyard in Bendigo, planted on loess soils over deep silts with naturally occurring lime deposits. Approximately 25% whole bunches were retained, while the remaining fruit was gently destemmed to preserve a high proportion of whole berries.
Fermentation took place over 21 days using indigenous yeasts in an open-top concrete tulipe fermenter. The wine was matured for 12 months in 500L French oak puncheons (25% new oak), before blending and an additional six months of oak ageing. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve purity, texture and site expression.
Why Buy This Wine
- Single-vineyard Pinot Noir from the renowned Bendigo subregion of Central Otago
- Produced by the acclaimed Pyramid Valley winery
- Organically farmed using minimal-intervention winemaking
- Made from the highly regarded Abel clone
- Wild yeast fermented and bottled unfined and unfiltered
- Beautifully balances fruit purity, savoury complexity and mineral freshness
- Outstanding cellaring potential through 2038 and beyond
Food Pairing
The 2022 Pyramid Valley Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with:
- Roast duck breast
- Herb-crusted lamb rack
- Wild mushroom risotto
- Venison loin
- Charcuterie and soft-rind cheeses
Serving Temperature: 14–16°C
Cellaring Potential
Already displaying exceptional harmony and elegance, the 2022 Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir will continue to gain complexity and savoury nuance with careful cellaring.
Recommended drinking window: Now–2038+
Critic Scores & Reviews
Critic scores and reviews for the 2022 Pyramid Valley Snake's Tongue Pinot Noir will be updated when available.
