Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2020

Using traditional Burgundian methods, this rich and powerful Chardonnay underwent gentle foot stomping, fermentation in oak (30% new), full malolactic conversion and 12 months maturation.

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Tasting Notes

Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2020

"Classic Peg-Bay bouquet of power and richness, no mistaking the intensity of style as well as nutty oak and ripeness of stone fruits, cashew and Brazil-nut some burnt butter and baking spices, roasted stone fruits, pineapple and a whisper of butterscotch. Full-bodied, rich in flavours with a creamy satin texture. A mix of sweet oak and medium+ alcohol, plenty of acidity leading to a complete, lengthy finish." 94 Points, Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com

"The 2020 Chardonnay is a powerful, forthright style. This young, reductive, barrel-fermented style provides evident flint, smoky bacon and hazelnut aromas atop the savoury fruit. It offers muscle and firmness within its medium-bodied core. It’s a serious and unapologetic style erring on the right side of funky. It deserves several years in bottle to gel." 92 Points, Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous

"The 2020 Chardonnay is Mendoza clone on own roots. The fruit set in 2020 yielded good amounts with normal sized berries, and the fruit was good—not too concentrated or intense. On the nose, there's curry leaf and dehydrated mandarin, Szechuan peppercorn, fried shallots and sea salt, cumin seeds, heavy toast vanilla cake and lemongrass. The wine is rich and concentrated. Full throttle! There's salted white peach, torched caramel/burnt brown sugar." 92 Points, Erin Larkin, www.robertparker.com

"A great, complex, layered South Island Chardonnay; one of New Zealand’s best. This is a commanding wine with depth of flavour: flinty, zesty, full of citrus purity and smooth, ripe peachy notes captured in a full-bodied dry and lingeringly flavoursome wine." Joelle Thomson, Drinksbiz

Pegasus Bay is a family-owned and run business within the Waipara Valley, led by patriarch and Neuroscientist Ivan Donaldson. Free draining and low fertility soils produce low yields of high quality, flavourful grapes, which fully express the qualities of Pegasus Bay’s unique setting. The range of wines is led by diverse and ageworthy styles of Pinot Noir and Riesling, with highly expressive Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon blends complementing the portfolio.

Producer website: https://www.pegasusbay.com/

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