“Dense, full-bodied and silken red with black-fleshed plum, cassis, black cherry and spicy oak supported by a backbone of fine, peppery tannins that emerge on the finish. Rich and satisfying red … ”
- Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, NZ
Vergence Red
VERGENCE is when the pupils of the eyes look inwards and outwards, during focusing. Wine made under this label will first and foremost be delicious, while also reflecting our commitment to constantly evolving our wine styles. Keeping an open mind is essential for progress and at times this this means looking outside the square, even when it’s untraditional, experimental or downright quirky. The composition of these wines may well change from vintage to vintage and we may also decide to create different batches or “marks” within the same season. Either way you can be sure they have not been made looking straight.
FAMILY
The Donaldson Family have been seriously involved in viticulture and winemaking for over 40 years. Founder Ivan Donaldson planted the first Canterbury vineyard 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 and two spouses involved, managing various aspects.
WINE
The grapes for our Vergence label may not always come from our home vineyards, and here we sourced some premium fruit from Central Otago that we felt would be perfect for the style of wine we wanted to make. Vergence is all about looking beyond tradition, so for our 2018 Mark 1 we’ve opted for a 100% whole bunch, carbonic and naturally fermented Pinot Noir. The whole bunches were loaded into a tank containing a small amount of fermenting juice at the bottom, and then sealed to create an oxygen free environment. The juice released CO2, causing carbonic fermentation within the intact berries above. After approximately a week, the lid was removed and the bunches softly trodden under foot, releasing their juices so that the alcoholic fermentation could take place. The wine was then aged in French oak for one year.
On the nose there is an enticing mix of strawberry, raspberry, cherry and tamarillo, along with a whiff of pine smoke. The carbonic maceration has resulted in a wine with low acidity that is soft, succulent and seductive. The tannins are plush and velvety, with the bunch stems adding a peppery character, and hints of lavender and cinnamon.
Mk 2
“Made predominantly with Pinot Noir fruits and small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon … Fruity, textured, fresh and quite delicious … Balanced, well made.”
- Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com, NZ
“ … Medium-bodied with silky tannins. Juicy with savoury character on the palate. Soft finish.”
- James Suckling Wine Reviews, www.jamessuckling.com, NZ
“ … This black-fruited red blend possesses a smooth and creamy mouthfeel with a ripe tannin structure and savoury reveals.”
- Candice Chow, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
“This powerful, very inviting red is an unusual blend of pinot noir (85%) and cabernet sauvignon (15%) from the 2021 vintage … Already drinking well, it is deeply coloured, mouthfilling, sweet-fruited and supple, with cherry, plum and spice flavours, gentle acidity and a long, harmonious finish.”
- Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine, AUS
Mk 1
“What a fantastic wine to top the tasting and a real statement as to what whole-bunch fermentation can bring to a wine when managed and balanced to a high degree. Showing a really enticing, complex, gamy bouquet with a plethora of aromas such as wild berries, dark chocolate, coffee, crushed-thyme with plenty, (but not too much) vanilla oak in support. A seductive, plush, lush-textured wine with impressive weight, and a tasty, lingering finish that is perhaps the most impressive facet of all.”
- New Zealand Wine Rater, Stephen Bennett MW & Lynnette Hudson, NZ
“ … impressive complexity, and a firmly structured, long, spicy finish”.
- Winestate Magazine, AUS
“ … lingering, elegant finish. This is a harmonious Pinot Noir with succulent fruit, herbal and floral details and a fine powdery palate”
- Candice Chow, raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
“A dynamic and experimental label. Fermented using 100% whole-bunches … A rich, textural wine offering an attractive contrast to Pegasus Bay's regular pinot noir”
- Bob Campbell MW, bobcampbell.nz, NZ
“An elegant, pure and highly floral nose ... The delicious and attractively textured medium weight flavors possess good vibrancy … sneaky long finish … ” I like the depth, and this delivers excellent quality for the price”
- Allen Meadows, Burghound.com, US
“A real sense of lightness and elegance … deep and complex, refined tannins and a long finish. Already very enjoyable, it's a distinctive red”
- Michael Cooper, michaelcooper.co.nz, NZ
“This is impressive … outstanding depth and power … persistent refined finish. Made entirely from whole-bunch pinot noir grapes”.
- Sam Kim – Wine Writier, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
“ … The palate is voluminous but unimposing, with an enveloping and caressing mouthfeel. The balance sits firmly within the powdery tannins and generous body … “
- Stephen Wong MW
2017
“ … Quite a rich, weighty pinot with plenty of spice and some herbal characters adding complexity … An attractive wine that could develop well with bottle age”
- Bob Campbell MW, bobcampbell.nz, NZ
“This is a magnificent 100% whole-bunch-fermented pinot. It is richly fruited and intriguing … excellent depth and weight, beautifully enhanced by silky mouthfeel and supple tannins. Powerful and graceful.”
- Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
“From 100% Pinot fruit with 100% whole bunch and 100% carbonic maceration technique … ” delicious and fresh with a lower tannin structure, coarse silk texture and lengthy finish”
- Cameron Douglas MS, camerondouglasms.com. NZ
“ … Powerful and sweetly fruited palate … Pinot on steroids with chewy tannins …”
- Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times, NZ
“A powerful, fruit-packed, very bold style of Pinot Noir, it should be long-lived”
- Michael Cooper, michaelcooper.co.nz, NZ
“… There's some good energy here no doubt from the carbonic maceration … Red apple acidity to close with a dash of fine peppery spice and you walk away very satisfied”
- Steve Leszczynski, Qwine, www.qwinereviews.com
