THE FAMILY

The Donaldson Family have been seriously involved in viticulture and winemaking for over 40 years. Founder Ivan Donaldson planted one of Canterbury’s first vineyards in 1976 and went on to establish Pegasus Bay in 1986 with his wife Christine. It is a true family business, with all four of their sons involved.

THE VINEYARD AND VINES

The vineyard is located within the Waipara Valley of North Canterbury, on free draining, north facing terraces. It benefits from being in the lee of the Teviotdale Range, giving maximum protection from the Pacific’s easterly breezes and thus creating a unique mesoclimate. The vines are over 30 years old, with a large proportion planted on their own roots. They are located on the “Glasnevin Gravels” where greywacke stones, silt and loam have been washed down from the mountains over the millennia. The soil is of low fertility, resulting in naturally reduced vine vigour. This produces low yields of optimally ripened, high quality, flavourful grapes, which fully express the qualities of this unique terroir. The vineyard has warm days, but the nights are amongst the coolest in the Waipara Valley, drawing out the ripening period of the grapes, while still retaining good natural acidity.

THE SEASON

Unsettled weather over flowering resulted in a lighter than average set, meaning that no further fruit thinning was necessary. A classic North Canterbury summer then enabled this smaller crop to mature beautifully. Accelerated ripening allowed harvest to take place slightly earlier than usual, and favourable autumn weather ensured the grapes were picked in perfect condition.

THE HARVEST AND WINEMAKING

We use traditional Burgundian winemaking methods. The fruit was hand-picked in stages during late March and early April, and then gently trodden underfoot to increase complexity and phenolic structure. The free-run, non-clarified juice was then put into large French oak barrels (puncheons), 70% of which were old to limit pickup of oak flavour. In these it underwent primary fermentation by the grapes indigenous yeasts. The wine was then matured in the puncheons on its natural deposits of yeast lees (sur lie). In the summer after harvest, it started to go through spontaneous secondary (malolactic) fermentation. It was regularly tasted during this time and the fermentation was stopped when the ideal balance was obtained. It had approximately 12 months maturation prior to bottling.

THE WINE

On release it has an appealing lemon hue. The bouquet is sumptuous and compelling, both fruit driven and intriguingly savoury. Aromas of ripe peach, nectarine and green apple are interlaced with toasty notes of roast chestnut, smoky bacon, flint, sandalwood, and a whisp of struck match. The palate is a deluxe showcase of multi-layered richness and precision. Dense and textured, yet fresh and vivid. A gloriously expansive mouthfeel is perfectly balanced by a whip of rousing acidity that shimmies across the midpalate, setting up for an explosive and gratifying finish.

Download Tasting Notes


Awarded Classic Status.
- Michael Cooper's Buyers Guide, NZ
"Although wine maker Matthew Donaldson look as though he has just got in from an all night rave they are presently producing some of New Zealand’s most exhilarating, Burgundy inspired white wines...".
- Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, USA

2020

94/100
“Rich and reductive nose of toast, lemon curd, mango stones … Deep and oily with a full body and bright acidity. Toasty. Salted caramel at the end.”
- James Suckling Wine Reviews, www.jamessuckling.com, USA
92/100
“ … It’s a serious and unapologetic style erring on the right side of funky …"
- Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous,USA

A great, complex, layered South Island Chardonnay; one of New Zealand’s best ….”

- Joelle Thomson, Drinksbiz Magazine, NZ
Strapping yet delicate, richly flavoured yet subtle, this sophisticated North Canterbury wine is one of the country’s best Chardonnays … “
- Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide, NZ
95/100
Impressively complex and engaging a powerfully expressed palate offering awesome weight and persistency.” 
- Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
94/100

“ … Full-bodied, rich in flavours with a creamy satin texture ….”

- Cameron Douglas MS, camdouglasms.com, NZ
92/100

“… The wine is rich and concentrated. Full throttle! ….”

- Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, www.robertparker.com, USA


2019

“… An absolute Southern icon chardonnay … generously layered … It’s beautifully balanced, and boasts slightly charred oak and waves of gumtingling textures that last and last. It’s outstanding. … “
- Yvonne Lorkin, www.yvonnelorkin.com, NZ
95/100
There’s no mistaking the power and intensity of this wine … Bold and proud bouquet … a decent acid line and persistent lengthy finish.” 
- Cameron Douglas MS, camdouglasms.com, NZ
“… fragrant, complex bouquet. Mouthfilling, it is concentrated, with vibrant, peachy, mealy flavours, oak complexity, fresh acidity and the structure to mature well. Full of personality …"
- Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooperwines.com, NZ
94/100
“Lots of flint and stone aromas with lemons and green apples. Medium-bodied with a tight and linear palate and a long, flavourful finish. Very intense.”
- James Suckling Wine Reviews, www.jamessuckling.com, USA
95/100

“… a smooth-textured chardonnay with white peach, lemon curd, grapefruit and spicy oak flavours. Appealing purity and power. A sophisticated and complex wine.”

- Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, NZ
19/20
“This is one of the South Island’s most powerful, full-bodied, dry and rewardingly complex Chardonnays … The flavours are elegant and focused with a lingering finish.”
- Joelle Thomson, Drinksbiz Magazine, NZ
95/100
Superbly complex and inviting with ripe stone fruit, grapefruit, gun smoke … it's powerful and richly expressed on the palate offering outstanding depth and textured mouthfeel. Great presence with a prolonged gratifying finish.”
- Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
18.5+/20
“ … This rich, multi-layered Chardonnay shows power and abundance of vivid fruit across a lengthy, sustained finish.
- Candice Chow, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ

2018

19/20
“…The wines is creamy, dry, full-bodies and savoury with an incredibly refreshing taste of ripe, citrusy grapefruit and a lingering finish.” 
- Joelle Thomson, Drinksbiz Magazine, NZ
92/100
“…This is not your shy and retiring Chardonnay … it’s a real mouthful … “
- Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
“Strapping yet delicate, richly flavoured yet subtle, this sophisticated North Canterbury wine is one of the country’s best Chardonnays … “
- Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide, NZ
94/100
“Intense, richly textured … A generously-proportioned and complex chardonnay”.
- Bob Campbell MW, www.bobcampbell.nz, NZ
95/100
“… a wonderfully weighted palate that offers outstanding depth and richness gloriously satisfying” .
- Sam Kim – Wine Writer, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ

2017

17/20
“… Masterfully, this speaks the language of Burgundy with all of its familiar inflections; flint, restraint, the phenolics of a delayed whole-bunch press An intellectual rendition and very well done.”
- Stephen Wong MW
GOLD
“…Great intensity and concentration.  Complex and rich; long finish with grapefruit citrus … “
- The Six Nations Wine Challenge
“This powerful, North Canterbury wine has a definite ‘wow’ factor.  … Full of personality, ... weighty but elegant palate, … lovely depth.”
- Winestate magazine, AUS
96/100
“Impressive, vibrant and flinty …Great wine that is packed with interest
- Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com, USA
96/100
“Superbly fruited and impressively lifted …. Seductively flinty complexity. … The palate is equally engaging with excellent weight and concentration … finishing extremely long and expansive
- Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
95/100
“Bold, complex and flavoursome Chardonnay … A rich, weighty, textural wine that ‘feels’ as good as it tastes
- Bob Campbell MW, NZ

2016

19-/20
“ … the wine posses underlying power carrying the palate to a long finish. … a rich and luscious chardonnay …”
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereivews.co.nz, NZ
95/100
“... satisfylingly complex wine with a great texture and very lengthy finish.  A bright high energy wine …”
- Bob Campbell MW, NZ
EXCELLENT
“…Right out of the blocks …drinking superbly”
- Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times, NZ
94/100
“...Quite complex … tasty and very moreish.   Lengthy finish, balanced and well-made
- Cameron Douglas MS
94/100
“...Excellent … a walk on the wild side …”
- Gary Walsh, The Winefront, AUS
93/100
“Handy concentration and integration of some very complex traits … long smooth finish
- Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com, USA

2015

95/100
Very complex, very concentrated and very good.  This has a big hit of grapefruit and lemon citrus.  Quite pithy and flinty.  The palate has layers and layers of fruit, delivering flavors that follow in the stone fruit and citrus threads seen on the nose. Spicy oak warms up through the finish”
- Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com, USA
“ …. The bouquet is fragrant and youthful; the palate weighty … a very finely balanced, long, savoury finish. Already delicious ….” 
- Winestate Magazine, AUS
18.5+/20
“ … the palate is elegantly concentrated with an intense heart … The mouthfeel has fine textures guiding the fruit, and the acidity is refined and refreshingly crisp … to a long, lingering finish of stonefruits and nuts.  This is an intense and complex flavoured Chardonnay” .
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
18.5/20
“It’s not often you find Chardonnay as good as this one,…a complex, dry and richly flavoursome white…super delicious…” 
- Joelle Thomson, Drinksbiz Magazine, NZ
“Strapping yet delicate, richly flavoured yet subtle, this sophisticated North Canterbury wine is one of the country's best Chardonnays. …. Weighty, sweet-fruited and smooth, it has very generous, peachy, mealy, slightly buttery and spicy flavours, and a long, dry, savoury, seamless finish” 
- Michael Copper, michaelcooper.co.nz, NZ

2013

19.5/20
“ …. punchy and bold in expression.  Full-bodied and with immense presence and power …. This is a very powerful, flavour-packed, complex-layered Chardonnay …”
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
92/100
“ … a rich, intense Chardonnay that has plenty of power …A wine that shows class"
- Rebecca Gibb MW, rebeccagibb.com, NZ
95/100
“...Bold, powerful wine with a lingering finish.” .
- Bob Campbell MW, bobcampbell.nz, NZ
“   This is an outstanding white wine, year on year; modelled on the great Burgundian whites … An exceptional South Island Chardonnay that says ‘drink me now’ but also clearly has the staying power to age and evolve beautifully …” .
- Joelle Thomson, Drinksbiz Magazine, NZ
“..complexity builds as the wine rests on the palate; specific use of oak adds texture and length.A great wine that teases the palate in all the right ways..”
- Cameron Douglas MS, NZ

2012

19/20
“…The wine has a linear core following a fine, textural thread, unveiling layers of savoury stonefruit and nutty detail with subtle oak and minerally nuances as it carries to a long, softly refreshing finish. This is a complex-flavoured savoury, stonefruit and nutty Chardonnay with excellent vitality and fresh acidity . . .”.
- Raymond Chan, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
This Chardonnay comes from North Canterbury’s best known winery, Pegasus Bay, whose reputation has been forged on making great whites – particularly full bodied Rieslings but also exceptional good Chardonnays, which can age well. This is due to the cool climate delivering grapes with vibrant acidity, which preserves these lovely fleshy whites.
- Joelle Thompson, Drinksbiz, NZ

2011

One of the best NZ Chardonnays I’ve tasted this year. This youthful Chardonnay is taut and linear, focused and elegant. It gives attractive flinty sulphide-derived characters, as well as white stone fruit. New French oak adds a hazelnutty layer. High level of concentration in mouth suggests low yields, and combined with a long finish, this Chardonnay exudes quality.
- Rebecca Gibb, rebeccagibb.com, NZ
90/100
“…Reticent, pure aromas of lemon peel, lime, minerals and white pepper. Densely packed and subtly complex, with citrus and nectarine flavors complemented by spicy oak and a captivating leesy quality that contributes texture as well as another flavor element. More Burgundy than New World in style in spite of its mid-palate sweetness….” .
- Steve Tanzer, internationalwinecellar.com, 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