2021 Pyramid Valley Mānata Pinot Noir

A luminous New Zealand Pinot — graceful, complex and irresistibly pure. A profound and hauntingly beautiful North Canterbury Pinot Noir — silky and expressive, with red cherry purity, dried rose petal and the extraordinary cool-climate finesse, mineral complexity and biodynamic vitality that places Pyramid Valley Mānata among the finest Pinot Noir expressions in the Southern Hemisphere.

Mānata — the Māori word for breath or spirit. Now four years old and in a magnificent drinking window. 96 points and outstanding value at $77.

96 Points – Bob Campbell | 95 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

North Canterbury, New Zealand

$77 a bottle
Biodynamic • Single Vineyard • Mānata • Pyramid Valley • North Canterbury Pinot Noir

"A luminous New Zealand Pinot — graceful, complex and irresistibly pure. Hauntingly beautiful, with red cherry purity, dried rose petal and the extraordinary cool-climate finesse and mineral complexity that defines Pyramid Valley Mānata as one of the finest Pinot Noir expressions in the Southern Hemisphere."

Tasting Notes

Appearance:
Deep ruby with a luminous, translucent core — vivid, vibrant and hauntingly beautiful.

Aroma:
Profound and complex with:

• red cherry and dark plum — pure and intensely concentrated
• wild strawberry and pomegranate
• dried rose petal and violet florals
• fine spice, dried herbs and extraordinary mineral complexity from North Canterbury's distinctive terroir

Biodynamic North Canterbury Pinot Noir at its most pure and expressive — luminous, precise and deeply compelling, with the mineral tension and floral intensity that defines Pyramid Valley as one of New Zealand's most celebrated biodynamic estates.

Palate:
Medium-bodied with silky, fine tannins of exceptional quality and fresh, vibrant acidity.
Expect layers of:

• red cherry, dark plum and wild strawberry — pure and concentrated
• pomegranate and vibrant red fruit
• dried rose petal, fine spice and mineral complexity
• silky, fine tannins of the highest quality
• fresh acidity delivering breathtaking tension, precision and extraordinary length

The wine delivers red fruit purity with profound elegance, combining Pyramid Valley's biodynamic farming philosophy with North Canterbury's extraordinary cool-climate precision and the mineral complexity that defines Mānata as one of New Zealand's most celebrated and age-worthy Pinot Noir expressions.

Finish:
Extraordinarily long and persistent with lingering red cherry, dried rose petal, fine spice and silky, fine tannins of exceptional quality.

Critical Acclaim

96pts – Bob Campbell

95pts – Halliday Wine Companion

About Pyramid Valley Mānata

Mānata is the Māori word for breath or spirit — a name that perfectly captures the luminous, vital and deeply expressive character of this extraordinary Pinot Noir. Pyramid Valley is one of New Zealand's most celebrated and respected biodynamic estates, based in North Canterbury — a region that produces Pinot Noir of a completely different and more compelling character than Marlborough, with extraordinary mineral complexity, cool-climate precision and biodynamic vitality. The Mānata is Pyramid Valley's most celebrated single-vineyard Pinot Noir expression — a wine of genuine world-class quality and multi-year aging potential. The 2021 vintage is now four years old and in a magnificent drinking window.

It represents:

• biodynamic single-vineyard North Canterbury Pinot Noir from one of New Zealand's most celebrated and respected estates
• Pyramid Valley's pinnacle expression — dual 95–96-point, luminous Pinot Noir of world-class quality
• outstanding value for a dual 95–96-point, age-worthy New Zealand biodynamic Pinot Noir

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2021
• Variety: Pinot Noir
• Region: North Canterbury, New Zealand
• Producer: Pyramid Valley
• Serving Temperature: 14–16°C
• Cellaring: Drink now – 2035

Food Pairings

• Duck breast with cherry
• Seared salmon
• Mushroom risotto
• Roast quail
• Washed-rind cheese
• Game terrine

Why We Love It

This is one of New Zealand's great Pinot Noir expressions — luminous, graceful and irresistibly pure, now in a magnificent drinking window at four years of age.
At $77, it delivers dual 95–96-point critical acclaim and a Pinot Noir experience that rivals the finest expressions from Burgundy and Central Otago.

An essential acquisition for collectors and lovers of benchmark, age-worthy New Zealand biodynamic Pinot Noir.