2020 Pyramid Valley Angel Flower Pinot Noir

Carefully hand sorted, fully destemmed and fermented with yeasts from the vineyard, gently fermented using infusion methods for 21-27 days. Settled in tank before being transferred to French wooden cuves and barrel. Elevage of 18 months, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Moderate red cherry, clear and bright in the glass. Haunting aromas that are difficult to place, cherry pastries, wild forest in the summer, red clover, lavender fields. Autumn raspberries, early season red cherries, blood orange, hints of clove and nutmeg, and the warmth of summer berries, pastry and a savoury twist from the forest; long graceful and powerful; the consummate iron fist in a silk glove; sensational.

"‘Angel flower’ is another name for yarrow, found when this cool, exposed pasture was planted to vines in 2000. Beautifully floral and lifted, it has distinct savoury notes of umeboshi (salty-sour plums), tart cherry, wild strawberries and hints of cola. Fine-boned, with sappy tannins, focused acidity and a long, smoky finish. Also superb is Earth Smoke, its more dark-fruited, powerful and structured single-vineyard sibling (2019, £80 Specialist Cellars), as well as the winery’s two regional-level Pinots."

"Full bottle 1,429 g. Certified Demeter biodynamic. Angel Flower is a cooler, more exposed block than Earth Smoke. Shallow soils, north-facing aspect. Their explanation of the name of the wine is as follows: 'Angel Flower is the prettiest of many synonyms for yarrow; a grassland and pasture plant with delicate, fennel-like leaves and a brilliant mass of white flowers. Yarrow is the basis of the biodynamic preparation 502 and is strongly associated with mobilising natural sulphur and potassium in the soil.' Destemmed, spontaneous fermentation. Purple-red earthy nose that smells like roasted beetroot and hibiscus tea and dried porcini mushrooms. There is a curve of red cherry on the palate, dusted with cinnamon and fine-powdered earth. The sweet soil-pomegranate-black-fig-squashed-on-a-stone-wall flavour of beetroot forms this lovely twisted-vine-limb framework within which the quiet breath of this gentle wine draws and expands. The tannins feel like sifted spice and wholewheat flour, a flecked, nut-savoury, wholesome texture. There's a sweetness to the soul of this wine – like a child climbing into your lap and whispering secrets in your ear. (TC)."