The season

An exceptionally early budburst was brought about by a very mild spring. Warm summer days followed by a lingering dry autumn with cool nights produced healthy, perfectly ripened grapes with vibrant fruit flavours. All of the reds showed excellent physiologically mature tannins.

The vineyard and the vines

The vines are grown in stony, freely draining soil on north facing terraces. Being the most sheltered and warmest part of our vineyard they receive extra heat and we removed the leaves from around the bunches early in the summer to accentuate this effect. Some of the blocks are over a quarter of a century old and are on their own roots.

The harvest and winemaking

We used the traditional methods which are employed to make Bordeaux’s celebrated wine, Claret. After picking during May the grapes were fermented by their indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. During this process the juice was regularly drained from the tanks sprayed back over the surface of the cap of floating grape skins to keep it moist and healthy. After this primary fermentation ceased the tanks were sealed in the grape remnants were allowed to steep or macerate in the newly formed wine several weeks to help improve the wine's body and structure. The exact period of this process was judged by daily tasting. The wine was then drained off and put on to French oak barriques. In the summer after harvest it underwent natural spontaneous malolactic or secondary fermentation. It was in these barriques for two years, during which time it underwent several rackings, enabling it to clarify naturally. The various batches were then blended according to taste before bottling. This wine is a blend of 70% malbec and 20% Merlot and 5% each of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc.

The Wine

On release the wine is a dense, inky ruby. It is bursting with impressions of blackberry, purple plum, vanilla pod, cigar box, licorice, black olive and tar. The palate, which is mouth filling and rich, is backed by a spine of muscular, fine-grained, ripe tannins that draw out the wine’s length and will help it age gracefully. While ready to drink on release it should develop a range of additional nuances as it mellows with age. It can be expected to improve in the next 8 – 12 years and lived well beyond.

Download Tasting Notes


2019

94/100
”An inviting nose of blackcurrants, ink, coffee bean, pine and fresh mint … Black fruit laced with oak washes over the palate with pleasant spice and herbal complexity. Lingers on the palate.”
- James Suckling Wine Reviews, www.jamessuckling.com, USA

95/100

The Maestro represents the best of the Pegasus Bay Bordeaux fruit. I was privileged to receive a pre-release sample and all I can suggest is that you get in the queue. There is a class about its swagger and I just want more … Dangerously smooth, its silky presence oozes the prestige of the label it represents … I found fascinating … “

- Steve Leszczynski, Qwine, www.qwinereviews.com, AUS

“… it is a powerful, sturdy red highly concentrated and a silky-smooth texture. Weighty, rich and rounded
- Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz, NZ

19+/20
“… This densely constructed red blend shows power, complexity and a mealy, long, savoury finish.
- Candice Chow, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ

Magnificently styled and seductive … it's gorgeously layered in the mouth displaying velvety texture backed by loads of silky tannins. Plush and multi-layered with stunning complexity and length.” 
- Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ

2016

19/20
Maestro is one of the top reds in this country … It is a dense, dark, full-bodied red Impressive is an understatement
- Joelle Thomson, drinksbiz Magazine, NZ

“It's superbly fruited and hugely appealing wonderfully concentrated and richly expressed delectably enticing …” 
- Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
19.5/20
“… This is a brilliant NZ South island Bordeaux blend with richness and concentration … Only made in exceptional years”
- Candice Chow, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
95/100

“… A delicious meaty wine with muscle, power, flavour and finish. Love it!

- Cameron Douglas MS, camerondouglasms.com, NZ
“... One of the South Island's greatest 'Bordeaux-style' reds, it should flourish for a decade.” 
- Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz, NZ
94/100
” … Super fine tannins deliver a ball of spiced, dark-chocolate-coated black cherries and plum liqueur …”
- Nick Stock, www.jamessuckling.com, USA

2015

93/100
This has an attractive melding of bright violet-like fragrance with rich, dark berry fruits. The merlot really has the upper hand: it's all regal tannins and pristine blueberry fruit flavours. A superb mid-weight, flavorsome red.
- Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com, USA
19/20
“Full, very dark, deep … the nose is bold and intensely concentrated … The wine carries to an elegant, sustained finish.  This is a bold, fulsome, sweet succulent Merlot blend …”
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
Densely fruited … the flavours harnessed by a touch of silky tannin.  Long finish
- Winestate Magazine, AUS
93/100
"… a medium to full-bodied red, with mouthwatering fruit and a long, dry, silky finish.”
- Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, USA
94/100
“Dark red berry fruits with plums and blackberry, violets and brown spices …. organic earthy quality, complex and engaging … tannins adding a lot of structure.  Lengthy finish and very youthful still
- Cameron Douglas MS, camerondouglasms.com, NZ
94/100
“ … Full bodied powerful style …Good stuff.”
- Gary Walsh, The Winefront, AUS

2009

93/100
Jasmine-tinged blackberry and blackcurrant fruit here, with hints of crème de cassis, purple flowers, clove, macerated plums, milk chocolate and gently spiced oak. It smells delicious. Smooth and svelte on the palate with beautifully detailed fruit, spice and meaty, smoky nuances.
- Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com, USA
95/100
Attractive red wine with seductive sweet fruit and flavours suggesting blackcurrant, coffee, chocolate and dried herbs. Rich, almost luscious wine with a long and gentle drying finish. This is the best vintage of this label I can recall tasting
- Bob Campbell MW, Gourmet Traveller Wine, AUS
. . . arguably the best yet. Deep and youthful in colour, it is rich and flowing, with concentrated, beautifully ripe blackcurrant, plum, spice and coffee flavours, complex and finely structured. Drink now and over the next decade.
- Michael Cooper, Buyers Guide 2012, NZ
TOP TIP - This is always a blockbuster of a wine and this 2009 vintage is as good as any. It has a dark, dense nose of plums with chocolate notes whilst the palate is stacked full of sweet, ripe juicy fruit that is concentrated and powerful and counterbalance to the bold tannins.
- TizWine.com, NZ

2007

91/100
“Hearty, rich and warming red in a mellow and flavoursome style. Some ripe plum and berry flavours contrast with more savoury, toasty, spicy notes. A distinctive and characterful wine.
- Bob Campbell MW, Gourmet Traveller Wine, AUS
”Drinking well now, this Waipara red is a blend of merlot (50%) and malbec (40%), with minor portions of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Barrel-aged for two years, it is deeply coloured and fleshy, with generous, spicy, nutty flavours, showing excellent complexity and richness.
- Michael Cooper, Winestate, AUS
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Pegasus Bay

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Off Licence.
Licence Holder:Donaldson Family Limited T/A:Pegasus Bay Winery.
Licence no:57/OFF/458/2022 Exp:16/3/2025