PEGASUS BAY
Established in 1985, Pegasus Bay Winery is an entirely family-owned and operated enterprise. Associate Professor Ivan Donaldson is a wine writer and wine judge. He oversees viticulture and wine styles. His wife Christine is business manager and a passionate opera lover and regularly organises operatic concerts on the property. Their eldest son Matthew and his wife Lynnette are the wine makers and regularly work vintage in the northern hemisphere with a focus on Burgundy and specifically Pinot Noir. Another son Edward is marketing manager, and as a trained chef, manages their winery restaurant along with his fiancée Belinda. The restaurant has been awarded New Zealand’s top casual dining restaurant by Cuisine magazine.
Pegasus Bay wines are made from 100% estate grown grapes. The vineyard site is on the property in the Waipara Valley of North Canterbury. It’s known for its micro-climate giving hot days through the growing season and cooling off significantly in the evening due to its proximity to the ocean. There is minimal handling of fruit during processing so the vineyard is able to clearly express itself through their wines. Pegasus Bay is a member of the Sustainable Viticulture Programme (SVP) and Pegasus Bay has a policy of not entering in wine shows however they have received many accolades for their wines.
"Although there are challengers to the crown, few people would dispute the fact that Pegasus Bay is the leading producer of fine wine in the Canterbury region…”
Bob Campbell MW – NZ wine annual
Wine Making
We utilised traditional Burgundian techniques in making this chardonnay. After picking the fruit was gently pressed and the juice put into barrels without any attempt to clarify it. There it underwent spontaneous primary fermentation by the grapes’ own yeasts. We used only large barrels, puncheons made by artisan French coopers, to avoid excessive extraction of oak flavours. Only a third of these were new. When the fermentation was finished the barrels were topped and the wine left on its deposit (sur lie) to mature in the cool of the cellar. In the summer after harvest, when the cellar warmed, the wine underwent natural secondary or malo-lactic fermentation. While each puncheon started this fermentation, the exact extent to which it was allowed to progress was determined by regular tasting of all the barrels. When it was felt an optimal balance had been achieved yeast lees were removed and this fermentation stopped . After a year it was removed from the puncheons and put into tank where it was allowed time to integrate prior to bottling.
The Wine
The wine shows a complex interplay of aromas and flavours. There are the primary elements derived from the fruit, suggesting lemons, limes, green-gages and peaches. These are intertwined with whiffs of wood smoke, barbequed sweet corn and grilled bacon. It has a soft palate entry but then gradually seems to expand in the mouth to become rich and full bodied. A back-bone of minerality and grapefruit-like acidity keep it tight knit and focused, drawing out its length. While ready to drink on release it should develop a range of additional nuances with careful cellaring.
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