2023 Pegasus Bay Aria Late Picked Riesling, Waipara

Upon release it has an alluring golden hue.  Perfumed and zesty, the bouquet is a sumptuous banquet of floral and citrus fragrances.  Lime blossom, star jasmine and rose petal, interplay teasingly with wisps of quince, granny smith, candied orange peel and lemonade.  A feisty seam of acidity dashes across the palate, ensuring the rich and opulent mouthfeel remains focused and precise.  The wine’s impressive structure is emboldened further by a touch of phenolic tartness that acts to balance its charming sweetness, giving rise to a long and succulent close.

Aria is part of Pegasus Bay’s reserve series and is the sister wine to our Bel Canto dry riesling. Both are only made in exceptional years that are favourable for the development of noble botrytis.  After an extended hang time, the bunches were hand selected with a portion of between 30-50% botrytis and a ripeness of approximately 28 Brix.  The grapes were then gently pressed, and the juice fermented slowly at cool temperatures to help the wine retain its vibrant fruit characters and varietal purity.  At all stages, from fermentation to bottling, it was handled very carefully to help retain a little of its naturally dissolved carbon dioxide.  This has resulted in a small amount of spritzig, which adds extra liveliness to the wine and accentuates its freshness.