The 2020 Pinot Noir from Pegasus Bay is crafted by one of New Zealand’s most respected family-owned estates. Established in 1986 by Ivan and Christine Donaldson, Pegasus Bay has become a cornerstone of North Canterbury winemaking. With deep roots in the Waipara Valley and over four decades of family commitment, the Donaldsons have cultivated a unique estate focused on producing wines of authenticity, complexity, and longevity. Their mature, own-rooted vines grow on free-draining, north-facing terraces composed of the ancient Glasnevin Gravels, a mixture of greywacke, silt, and loam, yielding low-vigour vines and intensely flavoured fruit. A long growing season, thanks to warm days and cool nights, draws out ripening while preserving bright natural acidity.
The 2020 Pinot Noir is an elegant and powerful wine, with a bouquet that is both aromatic and grounded. Earthy notes of forest floor, woodsmoke, truffle, and dried herbs weave around vibrant aromas of dark cherry, cranberry, crushed lavender, and exotic spice. On the palate, it opens with generous, ripe fruit before revealing its underlying structure, a broad yet silky texture framed by polished tannins and a lively acid line. There’s a dynamic tension between freshness and richness, giving the wine energy and drive, while a savoury core and hints of clove, potpourri, and spice add further intrigue.
Regarded as one of the great New Zealand Pinot Noirs.
