“ … lovely intensity and concentration … unctuous and textural, flows smoothly with positive energy and drive …”
- Candice Chow, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, NZ
Vergence White
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 means looking outside the square, even when it’s untraditional, experimental, or downright quirky. One thing you can be sure of is that our Vergence wines have not been made looking straight ahead.
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 now involved.
WINE
Our Vergence White is a non-traditional blend of several varieties in which we aim to make the most interesting and harmonious wine possible. Like our MK1, this is a multi-vintage wine. As the varieties reach optimal drinking at different times, this allows us to get the very best from each of the components that we are working with. The core of our Vergence White MK2 is once again ultra-ripe Semillon (approx. 45%) from Pegasus Bay’s 35 year old vines, aged in old oak puncheons for an average of 2 ½ years. The remainder comprises a mix of barrel aged and whole bunch fermented Sauvignon Blanc (approx. 30%), dry Riesling (approx. 15%), Chardonnay (approx. 8%) and a very small portion of Muscat and Gewurztraminer (approx. 1% each). Different fermentation and maturation techniques have been utilised to add balance and complexity, including skin contact and lees aging for some varieties.
Upon release the colour is lemon straw. The nose is an intriguing melange of citrus, tropical and floral notes. Lime zest and orange blossom melded with touches of passionfruit, rock melon and guava, and snippets of vanilla and rose oil. The palate is multi layered, with a creamy mouthfeel and satisfying weight and texture. A core of fruit is contrasted by a ribbon of vibrant acidity that adds depth, balance, and structure, setting up for a lengthy, juicy finish. Skin contact and ripe phenolics have added further complexity to this wine.
MK1
“ Vergence is a label for experimental wines that involve looking outside the square … A rich, textural white wine … A satisfyingly complex and weighty wine"
- Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, AUS & NZ
“… concentrated, vigorous wine, poised and youthful, with strong, ripe, peachy, spicy flavours, showing excellent complexity.”
- Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide, NZ
“ A complex bouquet … Many flavours maketh this wine with a moreish core of fruit, wood spice and waxy citrus fruits finish”
- Cameron Douglas MS, www.camdouglasms.com, NZ
“Splendidly complex and engaging … richly expressed with expansive mouthfeel … superbly long and delectable ….”
- Sam Kim – Wine Writer, www.wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
2016
“ Highly distinctive, … fragrant, complex bouquet, … concentrated, ripe, stonefruit flavours, hints of herbs, spices and nuts, and a lasting finish.”
- Michael Cooper, North & South magazine, NZ
“ … the bouquet is impressively complex and fragrant … concentrated and wonderfully weighted … rich texture, expansive mouthfeel … finishing long and attractively savoury”
- Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, wineorbit.co.nz, NZ
" ... rich, spicy, funky core and a long, lip-puckering finish”
- Yvonne Lorkin, yvonnelorkin.co.nz, NZ
“ … A flavoursome dry white that’s richly-textured and quite complex … I like it”
- Bob Campbell MW, bobcampbell.nz, NZ
“ … flinty complexity … a supple, complex riot of fruit and bold acidity …”
- Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com, USA
“… the palate is bold … complexity … finely balanced, silky …”
- Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times, NZ
