Presenting a late-release Riesling from New Zealand’s most-exciting producer Pegasus Bay. This carefully cellared vintage showcases the remarkable ageing potential of Riesling, developing layers of depth while retaining its vibrant acidity and aromatic precision. With several years of bottle age, the 2014 Aged Release offers a beautifully evolved expression, combining primary fruit with intriguing secondary notes.
Pegasus Bay Winery is a family-owned estate established in the 1980s by Ivan Donaldson, a pioneer of the Waipara Valley wine scene. Today, the winery is managed by his family, who continue to uphold a reputation for crafting premium wines that express the unique terroir of the region. Pegasus Bay is known for its commitment to sustainable viticulture and minimal intervention winemaking, allowing each wine to reflect the distinct characteristics of its vineyard. Their Rieslings, in particular, are highly regarded, often celebrated for their ability to age gracefully while developing complexity and depth over time.
The Waipara Valley, located on New Zealand’s South Island, provides an ideal terroir for Riesling. Sheltered by the Southern Alps, the region experiences a dry, sunny climate with cool nights, which helps to preserve the natural acidity in the grapes while allowing them to develop intense flavours. The vineyard soils are a mix of clay and limestone, contributing to the wine’s distinctive minerality and structure. The grapes for the 2014 vintage were carefully hand-picked and fermented slowly at cool temperatures to retain their aromatic purity. Following fermentation, the wine was left to mature in the bottle for several years, allowing it to evolve and gain complexity.
Pegasus Bay Aged Release Riesling 2015 Vintage
The season proved ideal for grape growing, marked by a warm summer and a long, dry autumn. Naturally low yields contributed to greater intensity and concentration in the resulting wine.
Harvested in May, the grapes were gently pressed before undergoing a slow, cool fermentation to preserve vibrant fruit character and varietal purity. From fermentation through to bottling, the wine was handled with great care to retain a touch of its natural carbon dioxide, adding extra crispness and a delicate spritz on pouring.
Pegasus Bay Aged Release Riesling 2015 Tasting Notes
This wine bursts with a vibrant medley of aromas and flavours, from mandarin, lime, and nectarine to exotic notes of mango, lychee, guava, and passionfruit. On the palate, it is concentrated yet graceful, with a fine line of minerality and crisp acidity that balance the off-dry finish and extend the lingering fruit.
Food pairing suggestion: Korean fried chicken Dry red curry of kingfish
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