Pyramid Valley Central Otago Manata Pinot Noir 2021
Meet Manata, a Pinot Noir born from north-facing slopes in Central Otago's Lowburn sub-region, named after a Māori legend and crafted with equal parts respect and playfulness. Hand-picked fruit fermented wild (some whole bunches included) spends a year in French oak, building silky texture and depth. Dark cherry, plum, and cassis mingle with whispers of spice, herb, and mocha, while fine tannins and bright acidity keep everything dancing. The result? A wine that's both elegant and energetic, precise enough to impress, charming enough to enjoy. Pure Central Otago character, Pyramid Valley style.
The 2021 Manata Pinot Noir is distinctly soft, rolling and round—it sort of flows across the palate in a liquid kind of way (despite the fact that it is, actually, liquid). It's all dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee grounds, black pudding, dark cherry, plum skin and bay leaf. This is a soft, pillowy wine that has magnitude and gravitas through the finish, which is a pleasurable offset. A red apple core at the heart of the wine keeps me coming back for more ... a good attribute in a wine. “Those dark characters may be the impact of the last five days of harvest, where we had strong warm northwest winds. It hit 30 degrees occasionally," says Steve Smith, MW. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. 93Pts, Drink 2023-2031 - Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate