Pegasus Bay Aged Release Pinot Noir is a beautifully matured wine from the Waipara Valley, showcasing the complexity, elegance, and depth that Pinot Noir can achieve with careful ageing. Released after several years of cellaring at the winery, this vintage reveals the intricate layers of flavour and texture that develop over time, offering a refined, harmonious expression of New Zealand’s cool-climate Pinot Noir.
Pegasus Bay Winery
Founded in the 1980s by the Donaldson family, Pegasus Bay is one of the most respected wineries in New Zealand’s Waipara Valley. The estate has earned a reputation for crafting premium wines that reflect the region’s distinctive terroir, with a particular focus on Pinot Noir and Riesling. Today, the Donaldson family continues to oversee the winemaking process, combining sustainable vineyard practices with traditional techniques to produce wines of exceptional quality and character. Pegasus Bay is known for releasing some wines with extended bottle age, allowing them to develop complexity before reaching the market.
The Waipara Valley, located on the eastern side of New Zealand’s South Island, is a sheltered, sunny region with a cool climate — ideal for growing Pinot Noir. The Pegasus Bay vineyards benefit from north-facing slopes, free-draining clay and limestone soils, and a long growing season, which allows the grapes to develop intense flavours while retaining natural acidity. The 2013 vintage saw ideal ripening conditions, producing fruit with excellent concentration and balance. The wine was fermented using indigenous yeasts, followed by extended maturation in French oak barrels, and then carefully aged in the bottle before release to enhance its complexity and finesse.
Pegasus Bay Aged Release Pinot Noir 2013 Vintage
A mild spring set the stage for a sunny and consistently warm summer, followed by a lingering, dry autumn. The growing season unfolded under near-perfect conditions, providing ample warmth to achieve optimal ripeness while preserving the varietal’s purity and vibrant freshness. This balance of warmth and dryness allowed the grapes to develop intense flavours and aromatic complexity without sacrificing their natural acidity or brightness, resulting in a wine that embodies both richness and finesse.
Pegasus Bay Aged Release Pinot Noir 2013 Tasting Notes
This wine opens with vibrant aromas and flavours of ripe raspberry, pomegranate, black cherry, and purple plum, layered with decadent notes of dark chocolate and warming spice. On the palate, it’s rich and full-bodied, with a velvety texture that coats the mouth. The powerful yet polished tannins flow seamlessly, supporting the wine’s structure and extending into a long, lingering finish. While it offers immediate drinking pleasure, this wine also possesses the elegance and balance to age gracefully, promising further evolution and complexity over the coming years.
Pegasus Bay Aged Release Pinot Noir 2014 Vintage
A mild spring transitioned into a warm summer and an early autumn, providing ideal conditions for the growing season. Thanks to meticulous vineyard management, our vines achieved optimal ripeness, allowing us to harvest the grapes at their peak. This careful timing ensured the fruit was brought in under excellent conditions, just ahead of the challenging weather that impacted the latter half of April.
Pegasus Bay Aged Release Pinot Noir 2014 Tasting Notes
The wine presents a deep, intense purple hue, immediately inviting with vibrant aromas of ripe raspberry, pomegranate, black cherry, and purple plum, all interwoven with notes of rich chocolate and warming spice. Beneath these bold fruit characteristics lie complex savoury undertones of barbecued meats, grilled mushrooms, and black olive tapenade, adding depth and intrigue.
On the palate, it delivers a luxurious, mouth-filling texture, with layers of concentrated flavor balanced by powerful yet fine-grained tannins. The tannins lend a silky smoothness, guiding the wine to a long, elegant finish that lingers with remarkable length and finesse.
Food pairing suggestions: This Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with roasted duck, lamb, or mushroom risotto and offers a sophisticated drinking experience that rewards patience and careful cellaring.
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