Pollination of the grape flowers was affected by frequent strong, cool winds in late spring and early summer, resulting in a small crop of riesling grapes. The rest of the summer was splendid and the autumn was warm, dry and lingering. The berries became optimally ripe and flavoursome and retained good levels of natural acidity. We left the grapes hanging on the vines until winter. The early morning dews encouraged botrytis to grow on the berries and the warm days ensured that this remained clean and noble. It shrivelled the grapes to give not only extra concentration but to add its own special flavours. The fruit was then hand picked by making multiple passes through the vineyard, each separated by a week or more. We chose only grapes which were fully botrytic to go into this wine.                                  

After selection the grapes were gently pressed, but because they were so raisin-like, very little juice was obtained. Following settling the clear juice from the top was removed and fermented at a cool temperature to help retain the natural fruitiness and unique flavours added by botrytis. Because the juice had been so syrupy the fermentation stopped while the wine was still sweet and as soon as this occurred it was removed from its yeast lees to maximise varietal purity and freshness. It was bottled soon after.

The aroma and flavour profile is multifaceted with impressions of lychees, paw paw, cantaloupe, passion-fruit and apricots. An overlay of honeysuckle, comb honey and beeswax comes from the botrytis. While it is mouth-filling and lusciously sweet, it is cut through with zesty acidity and tingling minerality which keep it focussed, elegant and in balance. The wine seems to expand on the palate and leaves a citrusy after-taste of lemons and limes.

The wine is ready to drink on release but with careful cellaring it should unfold an array of other fascinating nuances over the next 5 or 6 years and live for a decade or more.

Download Tasting Notes


2017

“…. A wine of great depth, beauty and harmony, it has rich, oily peach, apricot and honey flavours, abundant sweetness, good acid spine and an enduring finish.”
- Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooperwines.com, NZ

This is totally delicious …. It's creamy and velvety with refreshing acidity, finishing persistent and gratifying.
- Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, NZ

96/100
“… Very intense, exotic wine … It's not at all cloying despite its intensity, thanks to a mouth-watering thread of fine acidity. Delicious now but no rush.”
- Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, NZ

95/100
“Aromas of honeyed apricots and marmalade, fresh peaches and manuka honey. Bold and delicious ... An exciting and delicious wine that reminds me of juicy California peaches, honey and sherbet. Well made …”
- Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com, NZ

98/100
“… This Noble Riesling shows impressive arrays of flavour, strength and balance, lending an incredibly moreish, pleasing finish ...” 
- Candice Chow, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ

2016

Trophy Sweet wine of the year WINESTATE, Australia
… A very elegant wine …. finely balanced and lasting
- Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz, NZ
93/100
“ There is an impressive concentration of sugar and flavor in this botrytis riesling. Lime and peach fruits, as well as marmalade and dried apricots. Luscious and balanced” 
- Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com, USA
OUTSTANDING
“ … The freshness here is an utter delight, a lip-smacking edge to the gorgeously long close creates a superb sense of balance
- Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times, NZ
96/100
“ … It’s wonderfully sweet and rich … the balance is superb and the finish lasts into next week.  Wow!
- Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, USA
92/100
“ … The taut focused palate is very well balanced, with a fine line of acidity …. Excellent
- Neal Martin, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, USA
96/100
Concentrated, luscious, … bush honey, pineapple, ginger and ripe peach … very lengthy finish
- Bob Campbell MW. bobcampbell.nz, NZ
19+/20
“ … concentrated core of ripe exotic fruit … delicious rich and near-unctuous concentrated Noble Riesling …. “
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ

2014

97/100
“ … This really is a delicious dessert wine.” 
- Bob Campbell MW, bobcampbell.nz, NZ
18.5/20
“...sweet and decadent to taste and light-medium bodied, lusciously rich flavours of ripe, exotic tropical fruits and citrus fruits are melded with honey, marmalade, crystallised fruits and a little toffee.  …. This is a rich and luscious botrytis-affected sweet Riesling with layers of exotic fruits, marmalade and lifted florals, and a soft, near unctuous mouthfeel.  ….”.
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
Outstanding
“… exquisitely balanced with a delicious silkiness on the palate.  Great complexity and an absolute delight.” .
- Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times, NZ
92+/100
“ …. rich, sweet and unctuous, … a wonderful backbone of refreshing acid and a finish that just goes on and on.” 
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, USA

2013

“ …. layers of flavour, lively acidity, and a sweet, lasting finish. .
- Winestate Magazine, AUS

2011

95/100
. . impressive purity and a lingering finish that refuses to quit . ."
- Bob Campbell MW, bobcampbellwinereviews.com, NZ
19/20
“…Very rich and opulent, this is nectar-like with an unctuous and rounded mouthfeel. Decadent flavours of citrus fruits, marmalade, honey and toffee unfold in gentle waves, and the wine coats the palate. The fruit and botrytis show great presence and intensity. Lifted floral and VA elements cut the richness with fine, underlying acidity lending drive. The wine flows seamlessly to a soft, lush, very long, lingering finish. This is a rich and unctuous botrytised Riesling.
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ

2010

TOP TIP Golden in colour and honeyed on the nose this is classical dessert wine. The concentrated fruit in the palate shows lemon, citrus and a nudge of marmalade. Unctuous and everlasting. Yum.
- TizWine.com, NZ
This was the panel’s favourite wine in the New Release tasting. It just strikes that perfect balance between fruit sweetness and acidity making it the perfect dessert wine. Yum!
- Wine NZ magazine, NZ
91/100
“… has a profoundly scented nose of acacia honey, apricot preserves and orange marmalade with touches of frangipani and dried mango. Fully sweet, rich and viscous, it gives a satisfying tropical fruit and honey layers with a good line of enlivening acid and a long finish.”
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, USA
Download Reviews

Pegasus Bay

Are you over 18?

To enter this website you must be of legal drinking age.



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