2012 Pegasus Bay, Prima Donna, Pinot Noir, Waipara Valley, New Zealand

Pegasus Bay

Pegasus Bay is an entirely family-owned and operated enterprise, they have been involved in wine since the early 1970's and were pioneers of wine making in the Waipara valley, situated outside Christchurch. The philosophy at the estate is to grow grapes of the highest quality which fully express the unique features of the vineyard; this is overseen by Matthew and Lynnette Donaldson. The estate itself boasts a natural amphitheatre and a thriving restaurant that prides itself on creating a menu around its wine list.

Within the Waipara Valley, Pegasus Bay vineyard gets maximum protection from the Pacific's easterly breezes by being tucked up under the lee of the Teviotdale range. The soil is free draining and reduces vine vigour, producing low yields of optimally ripened, high quality fruit. The estate produces wines from varying varietals such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or.

Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.

Because of the thinness of the skins, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However the best wines have grip, complexity and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, redolent with freshly crushed raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. When mature, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouth feel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey "sous-bois" nuances emerging.

The best examples are still found in Burgundy, although Pinot Noir`s key role in Champagne should not be forgotten. It is grown throughout the world with notable success in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts of California, and the Martinborough and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.