Chardonnay
75cl * 14% ABV * Waipara Valley, New Zealand
A refined expression of North Canterbury terroir, Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2022 is crafted from 30+ year-old vines grown in the stony Glasnevin Gravels of the Waipara Valley. The cooler summer and extended autumn allow for a slow, even ripening, delivering fruit with excellent balance and concentration. The grapes were hand-picked and gently foot-trodden before the juice was fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak. The wine is aged on lees for 12 months with partial malolactic fermentation to enhance texture and complexity.
The result is a pale-yellow Chardonnay with a vibrant and complex nose of citrus, melon and pineapple, with subtle notes of vanilla and mushroom. There is a fleshy texture to the palate, lifted by a lively acidity. This is a serious wine, with structure and concentration indicative of its aging potential.