Jeroboams are 3000mls and come in a wooden presentation box. Free shipping on all jeroboams.

THE 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 now involved.

THE VINEYARD AND VINES

The vineyard is located within the Waipara Valley of North Canterbury, on free draining, north facing terraces carved out of New Zealand’s Southern Alps by an ice-age glacier. 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. The soil is free draining and 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.

Traditional Burgundian winemaking methods were used to make this wine.  We picked the various blocks at different stages, depending on their maturity, aiming for a range of red and dark fruit flavours.  Approximately 40% the grapes were put at the bottom of the fermentation vats as whole bunches, with the balance being destemmed on top, retaining as many whole berries as possible. The vats were kept cool over the next few days to help extract the soft, silky tannins from the pinot noir skins.  After approximately a week the must started to ferment naturally.  During fermentation the skins of the grapes were gently plunged twice daily. When the fermentation finished, the grape remnants were left to steep in the wine for up to a week to help extract a different range of tannins that add structure and depth.  The exact duration of this period was determined by daily tasting.  Subsequently the wine was gently pressed off and put into oak barriques (40% new) from selected artisan Burgundian coopers.  In the summer after harvest, when the weather warmed, the wine underwent a natural malo-lactic (secondary) fermentation.  After maturing for 15mths in these barriques, the batches made from the many different plots and clones of pinot were carefully blended in varying portions to produce the most complex and balanced wine possible.

THE WINE

Upon release the wine is bright ruby in colour, the bouquet a rich tapestry of both red and dark fruit, as well as savoury notes.  Heady aromas of cherries, plums and pomegranate swell from the glass, flanked by a smouldering column of cinnamon, mushroom, truffle and leather.  The mouthfeel is generous yet supple, with a pelt of velvety ripe tannins that adds structure and length.  Well-judged acidity completes the perfect partnership, giving balance and setting up for a long and harmonious finish.