2021 Pegasus Bay Virtuoso Chardonnay, Waipara

Immediately complex and bold with shape, form and power. Aromas of ripe yellow stone fruits, wood smoke and lees, baked apple and quince, roasted nut and burnt butter. On the palate full-bodied, taut and new still with textures from acidity and fruit power to the same of oak and nutty-lees complexities. Delicious and fresh, a fantastic example with a lengthy and exuberant finish. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2030+.

96 points camdouglasms.com

Pegasus Bay Virtuoso Chardonnay from Waipara is a luxurious and beautifully composed wine that showcases the depth, texture and purity that the Donaldson family have become famous for. Pegasus Bay, one of New Zealand’s most respected family-run wineries, is located in North Canterbury’s Waipara Valley, where long dry autumns and limestone-rich soils provide ideal conditions for Chardonnay. The Virtuoso label is reserved for the estate’s most exceptional parcels of fruit, selected from low-yielding vines that produce grapes with remarkable concentration and balance.

The vineyard’s free-draining gravel and limestone soils, combined with a sheltered north-facing aspect, encourage slow ripening and the development of intense flavour and natural acidity. Grapes are hand picked and whole bunch pressed before being fermented with wild yeasts in French oak barriques, a portion of which are new. The wine is left to mature on its yeast lees for up to eighteen months with periodic stirring, giving it a creamy texture and savoury complexity. The result is a Chardonnay that combines richness and structure with striking finesse.

In the glass it shines pale gold with hints of green. The aroma opens with white peach, nectarine and lemon curd, followed by layers of toasted hazelnut, vanilla bean and flint. On the palate it is opulent yet refined, with ripe stone fruit, citrus and almond flavours framed by crisp acidity and a chalky mineral line. The oak is beautifully integrated, adding depth and spice without overwhelming the fruit. The finish is long and harmonious, leaving a lingering impression of citrus, cashew and subtle smokiness.

Pegasus Bay Virtuoso Chardonnay is a superb match for dishes such as lobster with lemon butter, roast chicken with tarragon, seared scallops or creamy pasta with mushrooms. It also pairs wonderfully with soft cheeses and seafood risotto. While captivating in its youth, it will reward cellaring for up to ten years, developing honeyed and nutty notes that add to its layered complexity.