Pegasus Bay 2014 Sauvignon Semillon, 2013 Merlot Cabernet and 2014 Encore

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Sauvignon/Semillon 2014
  Blended White from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 15-Oct-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Ed Donaldson explained that his brother Mat has been working on making this wine richer and fuller by using lower yields, increasing the lees aging from 10 months to 12 months and upping the new oak a little. The wine still benefits from time in bottle and on this showing, 5 months down the track, it tasted even better than before. Still pale straw in colour, the freshness, intensity and concentration of the nose was striking, with gooseberry and stonefruit vitality. On palate racy, bright and tight, but with a lusciousness of green stonefruits to balance the acidity. Excellent detailing. Very long and sustained. 18.5/20 Oct 2016 RRP $34.50 Bright, light golden-yellow colour, lighter on the edge. This has a softly concentrated and well-packed, penetrating nose of nectarines, greengages, green stonefruits and fragrant herbs along with softly interwoven nutty lees and oak detail. This has an attractive harmony and completeness to the expression. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is moderately rich and softly packed with flavours of sweet green stonefruits including greengages and nectarines. A soft layer of nutty oak and complexing lees gently emerges, and the flavours build in depth and intensity. The palate flows along a very fine-textured line with soft underlying acidity lending subtle drive and tension, leading to a soft, dry, lighter finish of herbs and green stonefruits. This is a moderately rich, concentrated and harmoniously presented Sauvignon/Semillon blend with subtle complexities and a soft, dry finish. A blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon from vines nearly 30 y.o., the Sauvignon Blanc fermented in 15% new French oak barriques, and the Semillon in seasoned oak to 13.5% alc. and 3.5 g/L RS, the wine aged 8 months on lees. 18.0+/20 May 2016 RRP $31.00
• Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Merlot/Cabernet 2013
  Blended Red from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 25-May-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, dark ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim. The bouquet is soft and fine with integrated, and somewhat reserved aromas of soft red berry fruits interwoven with plums, cedary oak, dried herbs and nuances of savoury, secondary elements of earth, leather and game. This is gentle and harmonious in expression. Medium-full bodied, the fruit expression is a little restrained, but builds to show a softly concentrated heart of savoury dark red berry fruits, plums, dried herbs, earth and cedar. The flavours are harmoniously melded and unfold in waves. The fruit is supported by fine-grained tannin structure providing a dry grip, and the acidity is soft and integrated. This has good sweetness and presence, and the wine carries to a soft, stylish, lingering finish. A little restrained in flavour, this Merlot blend has rich fruit presence with harmonious layers of savoury cedar and earthy interest and good structure and grip. Match with lamb, beef, venison and semi-hard cheeses over the next 5+ years. A blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% each Malbec and Cabernet Franc, from vines up to 30 y.o., and ungrafted, indigenous yeast fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 2 years in 20% new French oak barriques. 17.5+/20 May 2016 RRP $31.50
• Pegasus Bay ‘Encore’ Waipara Valley Noble Riesling 2014
  Sweet Wine from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 25-May-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep, light golden-yellow colour, lighter on the rim. The nose is softly voluminous with softly concentrated and intense aromas of ripe citrus and tropical fruits harmoniously intermixed with marmalade and honey, along with lifted exotic floral and volatile elements. This is beautifully complex and layered. Very sweet and decadent to taste and light-medium bodied, lusciously rich flavours of ripe, exotic tropical fruits and citrus fruits are melded with honey, marmalade, crystallised fruits and a little toffee. The mouthfeel is smooth and near unctuous in texture with very fine textures lending a degree of balancing dryness. The acidity is soft, and the rounded and concentrated flavours carry to a softly rich, long finish of honey and marmalade. This is a rich and luscious botrytis-affected sweet Riesling with layers of exotic fruits, marmalade and lifted florals, and a soft, near unctuous mouthfeel. Match with fruit and baked desserts and with crème caramel over the next 5+ years. Hand-picked fruit from old, ungrafted Riesling vines, selected over multiple passes for botrytis infection and fermented to 11.0% alc. and 163 g/L RS, and TA 8.3 g/L. (375 ml) 18.5+/20 May 2016 RRP $39.00