95pt Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2015

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"...some of New Zealand’s most exhilarating, Burgundy-inspired white wines..." Robert Parker Wine Advocate

On offer today for the terrific price of £20.75 – 14% less than the UK RRP – this gorgeous chardonnay is one of New Zealand’s finest!

Combining the richness of great Meursault with the minerality of Puligny-Montrachet, yet at a price that neither can come close to matching, this delicious chardonnay clearly shows all the hallmarks of Pegasus Bay's Bugundian inspiration - yet with its own Kiwi character.

Pegasus Bay have a reputation for producing world-class wines and this chardonnay has consistently racked up great reviews both from the critics and from consumers, who appreciate its style, elegance and complexity.

This is a lovely chardonnay from one of New Zealand’s best winemakers, a perfect wine for spring!

About the wine

This is a luxurious chardonnay with a deep/lemon straw colour and aromas of citrus, as well as honeydew melon and some stone fruit (peach/nectarine), underpinned by secondary notes of oatmeal and toast from the lees fermentation. In addition there is a hint of struck match which adds a refreshing flinty minerality. The palate is rich and creamy with a mouth-filling texture and intense ripe fruit, but with a lovely backbone of natural minerality and acidity to keep the wine focused and sustain the flavours to the long, lingering finish.

It has the richness and texture of a great Meursault and the minerality of Puligny, all in one package - a combination that clearly shows the Burgundian inspiration of Pegasus Bay!

The fruit was hand-picked in stages during April and then gently pressed. The juice was put into large French oak barrels, known as puncheons, 70% of which were old in order to limit pickup of oak flavour. In these the juice was fermented with the grapes’ indigenous yeasts. The wine was then matured in the puncheons on the lees. The wine was regularly tasted during this time and the fermentation was stopped when the ideal balance was reached. The wine had almost 18 months maturation prior to bottling.

Winemaker: Matthew Donaldson
Appellation: North Canterbury, New Zealand

Accolades:
- 95pts, James Suckling
- 18.5+/20pts, Raymond Chan
- 5.0/5 Stars, Michael Cooper
- 3.9/5 Stars, Vivino Rating

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard: Various blocks in the Waipara Valley
Cooperage: 18 months in old oak
ABV: 13.5%
Drink: 2018-2024

About the winery

Pegasus Bay is an entirely family-owned and operated enterprise with the Donaldson’s involvement in wine in the area going back to the early 1970s. It might not sound like that long ago but at that time the family were pioneers.

Husband and wife team Ivan and Christine are still very much involved with Ivan overseeing viticulture and wine styles. Their three children each have an important role with the eldest, Matthew leading the winemaking; 2017 will be his 25th vintage! Edward is the Marketing Manager and the youngest, Paul is the winery’s General Manager.

Critics the world over have described Pegasus Bay and their wines as “iconic”, “outstanding”, “exceptionally good” and “exciting”; they are all right and you’d not argue with the writer in NZ Wine Country who said, “if a wine critic was not passionate about any of Pegasus Bay’s wine, they should seriously consider a change in career.”

About the vineyard

The Waipara Valley is in New Zealand’s South Island, a 30 minute drive north of Christchurch. Protected from oceanic breezes by the mountains, the Pegasus Bay vineyards benefit from long, warm summers that allow the fruit to ripen fully but at a steady pace that gives the fruit good levels of natural acidity.

The vines, which are almost 30 years old, grow on their own roots in well-drained stony soils on a series of north facing, gradually descending terraces. The site is warm during the day but cool at night, resulting in good ripening while retaining the grape’s natural acids. The plants are from an old, low-cropping variety that is prone to having a mixture of small and large berries on the same bunch. It typically produces chardonnay with good concentration and depth.