“… depth, concentration and a firm seriousness that will reward patience.  If you can’t wait that long, this estate Chardonnay represents excellent value for the quality.”

“Powerful chardonnay with intense aromas of flinty reduction … It's full-bodied with rich, toasty and tropical fruit, with an underlying smokiness and savoury saltiness. Muscular and compact, with punchy acidity. Intense” 

“The New Zealand chardonnays were equally convincing, with the likes of Pegasus Bay delivering the richness of a Montrachet and unique freshness with its Chardonnay Waipara Valley Virtuoso 2019 … . Dense and very layered, yet fresh and vivid. So long and intense. Great finish.”

“Easily one of the best Chardonnays you will find in New Zealand, the team at Pegasus Bay seemingly achieve supreme class almost effortlessly … A wine that encompasses so much detail and finesse … Bravo - just brilliant".

“ … A delicious wine, with weight and intensity, length and finesse".

“… Mouthfilling, it is a very 'complete' wine, with deep, ripe stonefruit flavours, searching and savoury, and a seamless, enduring finish. Already delicious.”

“   hedonistic weighty structure of the bold … taste explosions on the lingering, succulent finish.  This is an outstanding chardonnay from a great winemaking team.”

"Vine age, low cropping vines, planted on their roots and winemaking techniques that are designed to build maximum flavour and complexity have produced this seriously delicious, age-worthy chardonnay …. It’s an intense and impressively textural flagship chardonnay ….”

“A gracefully opulent chardonnay … concentrated palate delivers beautifully layered mouthfeel combined with creamy texture and bright acidity, finishing superbly long and expansive.”

“… The wine is full-bodied with softness and elegance … This Chardonnay is harmonious with a complex range of flavours, balance and strength.”

“… It's a real mouthful of a Chardonnay with its mass of barrel- and solids-derived smoky/nutty characters … it expands in the mouth, giving a sense of power and richness … it expands in the mouth, giving a sense of power and richness … Patience will be rewarded, as there's a lot going on here.”

“… It's medium to full-bodied but with extra levels of silkiness and length, with elegant citrus notes lingering for minutes" 

“Bold, complex and alluring bouquet … Complex, youthful and rich … Full-bodies, lengthy and persistent finish.  Youthful with plenty of acidity and some wood tannins …" 

“… There's great depth and drive here yet it feels unforced. … this is an excellent expression of the variety” 

“… excellent complexity, balanced acidity and a seamless finish.”

“… Golden and gorgeous in the glass … beautifully balanced … Chardonnay lovers – you need this”  

“The 2016 Virtuoso Chardonnay, actually brought to mind a Meursault Village from Coche-Dury …very well balanced … intense finish that lingers in the mouth. Brilliant”

“This is impressively complex … leading to a sumptuous palate that is concentrated and weighty … terrific fruit power as well as engaging savoury nuances, finishing gloriously long and gratifying”

“Intense, rich and weighty chardonnay … generously proportioned wine that’s deliciously drinkable …”

“ … very rich aromas ….”

“ … Toasty, dry, full-bodied … loads of weight and a lingering finish.  What more could you ask for in a top notch Chardonnay? …”

"The top tier of chardonnay at Pegasus Bay is in great form ... The palate heads more in a stone fruit direction. Supple and fresh."

“Complex, alluring and seductive bouquet … complex and textured …youthful and lengthy – a wine to contemplate the world we live in right now”

Ranked #1 of 15 2013 Chardonnay tasted from Waipara

“…Flagship chardonnay, … Lovely mouth-filling and very textural wine. An excellent example of this consistently top chardonnay” 

“… This is a rich, multi-dimensional, complex Chardonnay with layers of flavour and a vibrant, powerful palate....” 

“ …. Power yet finesse here, nicely balanced …. A serious wine that will repay time in the cellar.” 

“ … Wonderfully lush and rich but at the same time energetic and firm , with its stone fruit flavours perfectly balanced by spices and flinty minerals; salty and rich in extract.…” 

“…A powerful, rich and full bouquet of stone fruit, oak and spice: baked peach and nectarine with white spiced oak, new oak and a distinctive savoury/leesy complexity - even a flint-like edge. On the palate - dry, firm, youthful and intense… full-bodied and rich. Great wine!” 

The 2010 Virtuoso Chardonnay begins a bit subdued at this stage yet shows notes of apple tart, peach cobbler and ginger-honey, plus some cedar and citrus undertones. The full-bodied palate is solidly structured with tight-knit fruit supported by a vibrant acid line and a finish with great length. It should fan-out with a further year in bottle and drink it 2017+.

“Plenty to like about the nose on this wine. Rich, juicy stone fruit characters of white peach and nectarine, with lighter citrus flavours following behind. Spicy and pure on the palate…”.

"A wonderful Waipara wine, just starting to break into full stride, with peach, nectarine and nut flavours,showing lovely depth and drinkability.“.

A wine of commanding presence, the complex bouquet shows peach, mango, grapefruit and nutty oak aromas with subtle flinty notes. It's undeniably powerful on the palate yet perfectly balanced and harmonious. This formidable chardonnay is multi-layered and sophisticated. 

“The 2009 Virtuoso Chardonnay is a barrel selection wine, from older vines on their own rootstocks and naturally fermented/aged in French oak puncheons, 50% new. Crisp, concentrated and medium bodied in the mouth, it’s still young and taut but has a gorgeous satiny texture and a long finish.”

“One of the great chardonnay labels, Pegasus Bay have delivered an exceptional wine from the 2009 vintage. It's gorgeously complex on the nose displaying stone fruit, oatmeal, cashew, vanilla and subtle savoury notes. The palate is superbly concentrated and focused with rich texture, finishing extremely long and expansive. Matured for three years before release - one year in barrel on lees, one in tank on light lees and one in bottle. Based on previous vintages of Virtuoso, this stunning beauty will develop graciously.”

“…Rich, tightly structured Waipara wine, from 24 year- old vines….crisp and minerally. A cool climate style with real verve and drive, still unfolding.”

“…Top wine of the tasting - A heavyweight chardonnay label in every respect. Very intense wine with a strong but appropriate oak influence that is balanced by powerful citrus and stone-fruit flavours. The wine has masses of sizzled butter, savoury yeast lees and roasted nut characters. Assertive acidity adds energy and ageing potential…”

“I tasted a bottle of ’06 Virtuoso the other day and I was pole-axed with carnal, vinous desire … this is one of the most riveting whites of the year and for 20 quid you will go absolutely nuts when you taste the lush, cool, layered fruit and the staggering minerality underpinning all of the action…you can put it up against any of your Burgundys and ask your friends for a vote. Do not bet against this Virtuoso.”

“From Waipara, this is a striking wine-rich, complex and seamless...it shows excellent weight and a fine thread of acidity…”

“…It is a powerful, seamless wine, minerally and complex”

“The 2005 Virtuoso reminded me of a Corton-Charlemagne…it could still benefit from a few more months in bottle as the oak still needs time to meld into the structure of this outstanding wine”