Pegasus Bay Merlot Cabernet

"It's gorgeously ripe and lifted on the nose, showing blackcurrant, tobacco, cedary oak, tar and mixed spice aromas, leading to a wonderfully flavoursome palate delivering excellent weight and plump mouthfeel. Well structured by beautifully infused tannins, it's bold yet stylish with a persistent robust finish." Sam Kim

• Winery: Pegasus Bay
  
• Varietal: Merlot (pred.), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec
  
• Region: Waipara Valley, New Zealand
• Vintage: 2020
  
• Alcohol: 13.5%
  
• Volume: 750ml
  
• Closure: Screwcap
  
• Food pairing: BBQ pork, chicken satay pasta, blue cheese
  

Winery notes - Upon release it is an intense garnet colour. The bouquet is an arresting melange of black fruit and savoury aromas. Dark cherry, blackcurrant and plum soon morph into truffle, woodsmoke, leather and spice, along with faint mineral notes. In the mouth the wine is full bodied and assertive, laden with ripe elegant tannins and a classic structure. The larger Merlot component ensures the blend remains succulent and fruit driven, however there is a backbone of perfectly judged acid and tannins from the Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec that balances the wine, offering outstanding depth and harmony.

A moreish and multi-award winning Bordeaux blend style Merlot Cabernet blend from Waipara Valley by Pegasus Bay. Great for any occasion or as a red wine gift. Buy right here and get delivered direct to your door, we deliver nationwide.

THE FAMILY

The Donaldson family have been immersed in the wine industry since the early 1970s and were pioneers of local grape growing and wine making. Associate Professor and Consultant Neurologist, Ivan Donaldson, first became interested in wine when his girlfriend at the time, Christine, gave him a book simply called - ‘Wine’.

Penned by English industry legend, Hugh Johnson, the book started Ivan on an exciting journey, that has never stopped. After travelling to explore the wine regions of Europe, Ivan returned home to plant one of the first vineyards of modern times in Canterbury… and to marry Christine, who has been an integral part of the Pegasus Bay story.

The first vineyard was a hobby with Ivan making wine in the garage at home on the weekends, in-between seeing patients at his private practice in the evening and after his shifts at the public hospital. He also started writing a wine column in the local paper (that he continued for over 20 years) and was a judge in numerous wine shows around the globe. In 2012 Ivan was awarded an Order of Merit for his contribution to Neurology.

By the mid 1980s Ivan and Chris had decided there was definitely a future for wine making in Canterbury. They went on to plant Pegasus Bay with the help of their four sons, who have all ended up working in key roles within the business. Ivan, now retired from medicine, continues to oversee viticulture while Chris’s ‘happy place’ is in the winery’s extensive grounds, now beautifully well-established thanks to her careful planting over the last 30 years.

Chris is also passionate about opera and the arts. She has embraced the local opera scene for many years, including singing in the chorus for a number of operatic productions. There has been many a concert held at the winery’s natural amphitheatre and a reserve range of wines have been dedicated to Chris’s love of opera.

Their eldest son, Matthew, is Winemaker and graduated with an oenology degree and a postgraduate diploma in viticulture from Roseworthy College, in Australia. He has worked numerous vintages in other parts of the world, with a particular focus on Burgundy, and in 2020 would have had his 28th vintage at Pegasus Bay.

Another son, Edward (a trained chef) is Marketing Manager and spends much of his time trotting the globe to promote the wines to around 20 countries where Pegasus Bay is distributed. His wife Belinda managers the hospitality side of the business focusing on premium events. 

Michael was the last son to join the business after his return from overseas, finding a natural fit as Local Sales Manager, while the youngest son Paul, who has an MBA, is the winery’s General Manager.

Pegasus Bay is proud to be entirely family-owned. 

WINE-MAKING PHILOSOPHY

"Our aim is to grow grapes of the highest quality, which fully express the features of the vineyard and to handle these with the utmost respect. Minimal intervention at all stages from vine to bottle typifies our approach.

We believe in sustainable viticultural management, low crop levels, minimal handling of fruit during processing and gentle pressing. We allow wines to go through natural malolactic fermentation and clarification by settling, without the use of fining agents.

We aspire to capture the unique flavours of the vineyard in our wine with texture, length and drinkability being trademarks of our house style. Pegasus Bay wines are made with estate grown fruit from our North Canterbury home vineyard."

Pegasus Bay - Donaldson Family Ltd.

• 5 Stars & 94/100 Points - Candice Chow, Candice Wine Chat (2020 vintage)
• 94/100 Points - James Suckling (2020 vintage)
• 94/100 Points - Cameron Douglas (2020 vintage)
• 94/100 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit (2020 vintage)
• 95/100 Points & 4.5 Stars - Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review (2019 vintage)
  
• 94/100 Points & 5 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit (2019 vintage)
  
• 18.5/20 Points - Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews (2019 vintage)
  
• Excellent - Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times NZ (2019 vintage)
  
• 4.5 Stars & 94/100 Points - Bob Campbell MW (2018 vintage)
  
• 4.5 Stars - Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine Australia (2018 vintage)
  
• 5 Stars & 93/100 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit (2018 vintage)
  
• 93/100 Points - Cameron Douglas MS (2018 vintage)
  
• 4 Stars - Yvonne Lorkin (2018 vintage)
  
• 5 Stars & 18.5/20 Points - Raymond Chan (2016 vintage)
  
• 92/100 Points - Cameron Douglas MS (2016 vintage)
  
• Outstanding - Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times (2016 vintage)
  
• 92/100 Points - Nick Stock (2016 vintage)
  
• 4 Stars - Raymond Chan (2012 vintage)
  
• 4 Stars - Michael Cooper's Buyers Guide (2011 vintage)
  
• 5 Stars - Wine NZ Magazine (2010 vintage)
  
• 4 Stars - TizWine.com (2009 vintage)