The Donaldson Family have been seriously involved in viticulture and winemaking for almost 50 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 the second generation now actively involved.
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 close to 40 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.
Settled weather over flowering provided a healthy fruit set, which was then thinned back to desired levels. The ensuing summer was dry with very little rain, resulting in perfectly ripened small berries full of intense flavour and concentration. Thankfully, our harvest was able to proceed during the C-19 lockdown, and an unbroken autumn full of warm days meant the fruit was picked at its optimum ripeness.
We use the traditional French variety of Muscat (Muscat à petit grain). There are very few rows in our vineyard, so only a small volume of this wine has been made. After picking, the grapes were gently pressed, with only the free run juice being used. The wine was tank fermented to preserve varietal integrity, and slowly matured over four months, until a perfect balance was achieved. Prior to release, the wine was left to age in bottle for several years, allowing it to integrate further.
It has a radiant lemon hue and flaunts luscious aromatics. Richly fruited and enticing, the nose projects white fleshed peach, apricot, and lemon curd, underlain with elderflower, linden blossom, honeysuckle, and spicy hints of ginger and nutmeg. Full-bodied on the palate with fruit, alcohol and ripe phenolics all contributing to mouthfeel and flair. Its off dry style is beautifully balanced by crisp acidity, an elegant structure, and a bittersweet touch on the close.
“Wonderful, intense aromatics of flowers and white spices … Fleshy, fruity, spicy and delicious. There’s texture to this wine from phenolics and fruit tannins, the acidity pushes these along nicely, but the wine always comes back to the fruit. Nice lengthy finish, balanced and well made.”
“An exquisite, concentrated, intensely aromatic sweet white wine made in the mould of an Alsatian Muscat … Muscat Petit Grains occupies a few rows of vineyard area at Pegasus Bay winery in North Canterbury and makes this beautifully aromatic wine.”
“ … This Alsatian style Muscat is powerful and opulent with complex interest and a sustained, spice finish.”
“ … This is a rich and lush Muscat with a mouth-filling palate and a complex range of flavours.”
“Richly fruited and engaging … impressively long and delectable”
“ … A delicious wine that coats the palate leaving lasting flavours”
“The powerful 2017 vintage was estate-grown at Waipara and matured for six months in old oak puncheons … Already delicious”
“ … ravishingly decadent, very richly textured and unafraid to harness sweetness for intensity … (an outstanding, superior example and worth seeking out)”
“… the lovely 2016 vintage is perfumed and mouthfilling …”
“The ultimate aromatic grape variety … An impressive curiosity”
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