Pegasus Bay Tasting

I took the opportunity to battle traffic and struggle to find a park to attend an after work tasting of Pegasus Bay.  Pegasus Bay is Waipara’s icon winery.  I know what a pain in the butt it is to attend this sort of thing in Auckland after work, which is why it has to be a pretty big carrot for me to bother.  Pegasus Bay though is one of those wineries which helps me make the effort.  Below are the notes from the wines tasted.

2006 Pegasus Bay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc.  This is an attractive wine that shows plenty of style. Exhibiting a creamy palate, vibrant and fresh with good integration of gentle lemon and citrus notes.  93/109

2006 Pegasus Bay Chardonnay.  Rampant chardonnay nose of mealy oak and hints of grapefruit and a more marmalade like character.  The palate is focussed and young with clean and long citrus like flavours flooding over a core of gentle spice.  A clean and long wine that will benefit and improve with medium term cellaring. 94+/109

2005 Pegasus Bay Virtuoso Chardonnay.  This is the first release of a Reserve Chardonnay from Pegasus Bay. Slightly more golden in colour with a very, very fine citrus nose which is very attractive. The palate is gentle but focussed with grapefruit like flavours and citrus pith emerging on the finish. Lots of finesse 95/109

2006 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir.  This is the best Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir I have tried. It is a gorgeously sleek and silky wine. Very pinot with the appearance of integration and seamlessness.  Black Cherry and cake spice flow through a well focussed frame.  I think they have the balance between elegance and richness bang on in this wine. Outstanding 97/109

2004 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir.  On tasting to display the development of Pegasus Bay Pinot.  I far preferred the 2006. This wine seemed to display a little too much ripe stalky tannin, was a little less integrated and not as sexy. 93/109

2004 Pegasus Bay Prima Donna Pinot Noir.  Concentrated red fruits, very long finish with a plush and voluptuous feel. A big, long and persistent palate.  This wine showed well tonight.  I have tried it a couple of times where it under whelmed me.  Tonight though it sat very nicely but did also display how good the standard 06 Pinot is 96/109

2004 Pegasus Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon.  Quite simply fruit driven with bold black fruits finishing with over drying but ripe tannins.  It looks a bit awkward in the context of the other wines 90/109

2003 Pegasus Bay Maestro.  This is a classy wine. Very fragrant on the nose with gentle spice and plumy fruit. The texture is very smooth and opulent – quite gorgeous. The fruit really is on show, plush and generous. Fine refined tannins finish just a shade bitter but not enough to upset you too much.  Excellent 96/109

2006 Pegasus Bay Riesling. Reviewed yet again by us.  This is still a very vibrant, zany and exciting Riesling jam packed with flavour.  Riddled with citrus; grapefruit, mandarin, lime and tangelo with its characteristic sherbet tang.  Fantastic head turner of a wine, just a gorgeous summer drink with very brash and obvious mouth watering flavours with gentle and ripe acidity 95/109