Pegasus Bay Prima Donna Pinot Noir is a stunning wine that hails from the Waipara Valley, New Zealand. This wine is a true gem, crafted by one of the most renowned wineries in the region. The bouquet is complex with hints of spicy, floral aromas and fresh raspberries. On the palate, it offers a silky texture, balanced acidity and a long finish with notes of cherries and plums. This wine is matured in oak barrels for 18 months which give it a unique touch of vanilla and spices. It is an excellent choice for those who appreciate premium Pinot Noir and want to enjoy a luxurious drinking experience.

Tasting Notes

It is deep ruby in colour, with a complex and compelling boquet full of pomegranate, cherry, vanilla, chocolate and spice. There is also a pleasing savouriness, offering up notes of game, mushroom and thyme. The palate is concentrated and rich, with fine grained tannins that add texture and weight. Complementing this is a core of refreshing minerality that gives the wine a lively tension, resulting in superb strucutre and length. While ready to drink on release it can be expected to cellar well and evolve gracefully for many years.

About the Winery

The story of Pegasus Bay starts with the history of the Donaldson family. The family has been involved and immersed in all the processes of the wine industry since the early 1970s. They were pioneers and developers of various unique and better ways of growing grapevines locally and producing wines from them. Ivan Donaldson, a consultant neurologist and associate professor, became interested in the art of winemaking. It started when Christine, his girlfriend, handed him a book named Wine, written by Hugh Johnson, a legend in the English industry.

The book set Ivan on an incredible and exciting journey, one that never ceased once it started. It urged him to explore the renowned wine areas of Europe. After his trip, Ivan came back to plant a vineyard that now is one of the first of the modern-day Canterbury. It was at this time that he married Christine. She, later on, became an integral element to the story of Pegasus Bay.

By the middle of the 1980s, the couple realised the worth that Canterbury had in the industry of winemaking. They grew the property and operations of Pegasus Bay extensively with the help and support of their four sons. The vineyards owned by the winery got planted back in 1985, producing exceedingly low yields per grapevine. They give small berries and loose bunches per harvest.

The vineyards remain in the vicinity of the Teviotdale Range, getting a high level of protection from the easterly breezes of the Pacific. The soil has free drainage properties with low fertility. They help in enhancing the naturally reduced vigour and flavour of the grapevines. It, in turn, helps develop and grow high-quality and juicy grapes ripened to an optimal degree. Wines produced using these fruits can express the characteristics and qualities of their unique setting.

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