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.

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2020
Moderately sweet riesling with contrasting tropical fruit (mango, passionfruit and pineapple) and citrus (lime, mandarin blossom and orange) together with a touch of bush honey. Sweetness is nicely balanced by tangy acidity giving the wine an exquisite tension. Complex and concentrated.
Rating: 95 Points
Source: Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2020
Wonderfully fruited and immediately appealing, the bouquet shows pineapple, grilled peach, orange peel, ginger and subtle honey characters, leading to a delectably expressed palate that's filled with succulent fruit flavours and rich texture. Opulent yet harmonious with attractive sweetness and bright acidity, finishing long and luscious.
Rating: 95 Points, 5 Stars
Source: Sam Kim – Wine Writer, NZ, Wine Orbit, www.wineorbit.co.nz

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2020
Fantastic bouquet, pure, ripe, zesty and fresh. Aromas and flavours peaches and lemon zest, there’s a honeysuckle and marmalade quality with fresh red apples and a lifted white flower quality. Off dry as the wine touches the palate with an immediately contrasting acid line and core fruit flavours that reflect the bouquet. Delicious, fresh and just dry on the finish.
Rating: 94 Points
Source: Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2020
Made with about 20% of botrytised fruit, this is the medium-dry style in the Pegasus Bay range. The nose is shy at first, showing only gentle notes of ripe pear and quince; with more air, hints of candied orange peel appear. The palate comes with beautiful concentration and the 26.5g/l of residual sugar make this rich, coming across as candied clementine and mandarin peel. This strikes a most gorgeous balance with a mid-palate brimming with ripe, juicy peach and citrus. It is a rich but bravura take on Riesling, striking a natural balance, with an emollient richness and all the flavours of candied citrus.
Rating: 93 Points
Source: Anne Krebiehl MW www.decanter.com

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2020
Complex, layered aromatics, including kafir lime, granny smith, citrus leaves, sea salt, and tonic water, with a touch of corruption. A taut, salivating, and intense palate with concentrated lime fruit, a crystalline texture, and bracing zippy acid. A touch of sweetness on the finish provides the perfect balance.
Rating: 94 Points
Source: Stephen Bennett MW, Lynnette Hudson, New Zealand Wine Rater

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2020
Complex, layered aromatics, including kafir lime, granny smith, citrus leaves, sea salt, and tonic water, with a touch of corruption. A taut, salivating, and intense palate with concentrated lime fruit, a crystalline texture, and bracing zippy acid. A touch of sweetness on the finish provides the perfect balance. Rating: 94 Points
Source: Stephen Bennett MW & Lynnette Hudson, New Zealand Wine Rater

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2020
Classy stuff. Estate-grown at Waipara, in North Canterbury, in top vintages it is richly fragrant and thrillingly intense, with flavours of citrus fruits and honey, complex and luscious. Based on mature vines and stop-fermented in a distinctly medium style, it breaks into full stride at about three years old and can mature well for over a decade. The distinctive 2020 vintage is already delicious. Bright yellow/green, it is weighty and rich, with deep, peachy, slightly honeyed and gingery flavours, gentle sweetness, and a very harmonious finish.
Rating: 5 Stars
Source: Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooperwines.com

 Pegasus Bay Riesling 2020
The 2020 Riesling from Pegasus Bay is a succulent and satisfying mouthfeel. There’s a natural spritz from minimal handling, before revealing its sweet orange and peach fruit, savoury notes and celery spices. The firm acidity and natural phenolics cut through the residual sugar like a razor, providing a lightly grippy and firm fresh finish. All in all, well balanced, running the gauntlet between austerity and sweetness, sweetly.
Rating: 92 Points
Source: Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2020
It’s said that the most important decision in winemaking is when to pick the grapes – and this wine shines with the courage of harvesting as late as possible. Pegasus Bay Riesling is an outstanding expression of North Canterbury Riesling, thanks to a dedicated team of Riesling devotees, headed by Mat Donaldson, whose vision is to make a super-concentrated, textural palate wine with flavours running the gamut of fresh lemongrass to ripe candied mandarin. It ages superbly too.
Rating: 18.5/20
Source: Joelle Thomson, Drinksbiz

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