Pegasus Bay Bel Canto Dry Riesling

Pegasus Bay Bel Canto Riesling is a remarkable wine. On the nose, the wine presents strong citrus aromas of ripe lime and orange zest with floral notes of orange blossom shining through. On the palate, the wine is dry, crisp and refreshing, with well-balanced acidity that accentuates the fruit flavours. The palate is dominated by citrus flavours of lime, orange zest and grapefruit, with hints of apricot and ginger. The texture of the wine is silky and luxurious and the finish is lingering and dry. The wine retains a little of its natural carbon dioxide which gives it a little spritz and accentuates its freshness. A really beautiful Riesling that will continue to evolve gracefully with age.

Warm days and cool nights that help balance the ripeness of the grapes with the refreshing acidity are the norm for these vineyards. In addition in 2020 and in 2023 following the warm summer months, there were perfect conditions for the development of noble botrytis, which is essential for Pegasus Bay Bel Canto Riesling’s structure, richness and full body. Very little rain meant smaller grapes with more concentrated and intense flavours which are captured perfectly in this wine. Cool fermentation ensured the fruit purity was retained.

Raymond Chan who sadly passed away described Riesling as one of the two “signature varieties of the Waipara Valley in North Canterbury” and Pegasus Bay as “leaders” in its production. Often in wine-making the aim is to express the terroir of a single vineyard but not with this wine because according to the winemaker at Pegasus Bay, Mat Donaldson, although single sites in the region do show an individual character and terroir, not all of them are worthy of capturing and expressing. Raymond Chan describes the style of this wine as “particularly connected with the tastes of the sophisticated consumer”.

For another Wow wine from Pegasus Bay, try their Pinot Noir.

Chilled this makes an amazing aperitif. Foods that dry Rieslings are well suited to include shellfish, fish generally but especially smoked fish and oily fish. Rich creamy dishes. Mild dishes – don’t try anything too hot or chilli-flavoured with a dry Riesling as the heat will kill the beautiful fruit flavours of the wine. Asparagus and artichokes can both be very tricky to pair with wine but are perfect with a dry Riesling.

Serve at: 10 – 12°C

2020 vintage: “Upon release it is lemon-straw in colour. An enticing array of aromas swell from the glass, orange zest, quince, and melon, supported by beeswax, blossom, sweet spices and a touch of flint. The palate is full bodied and richly textured, with a pleasing mouthfeel and ripe phenolics that add structure and length. While concentrated, the wine still possesses a fresh and lively tension, its refreshing acidity delivering a long harmonious finish.”

2023 vintage: “It has a bright gold tint upon release. A vibrant amalgam of sweet and sour aromas gush from the glass, pineapple, mango, and orange blossom in the attack, accompanied by suggestions of quince, kumquat, calamansi [also known as a Philippine lime], and a lick of wet river gravel. The mouthfeel is generous, yet precise, with a rich, textured palate, supported by a cheeky whip of acidity and ripe phenolics that create structure and length, funnelling towards a long, moreish close.”

For the 2020 vintage:

20 / 20 points – Drinksbiz Magazine
“Bel Canto – the greatest Riesling aromatic wine they make each year. This is one of the top wines in New Zealand with its exquisite balance … enormous concentration of flavour.”

100 points – New Zealand Wine Rater
“A huge, distinctive, aromatically prodigious, wine that leaps from the glass with aromas of orange blossom, marmalade, apricot, ginger and Manuka honey … This is an engaging, expressive wine that stands out from the crowd.”

100 points – wineorbit.co.nz
“Impressively complex and engaging … powerful yet graceful with excellent weight and persistency. Richly textured and mouthfilling, it’s brilliantly structured by firm acidity, finishing superbly long and flavoursome.”

95 points – Cameron Douglas MW
“Distinctive, floral, aromatic and classic with aromas of lime-flower and blossoms, honeysuckle and a botrytis tickle. A silky texture as the wine touches the palate with immediately contrasting acidity … A delicious wine …”

For the 2023 vintage:

94 points – JamesSuckling.com
“A dense and spicy riesling with sliced apples, lemons, grapefruit and flint. Full- to medium-bodied, layered and minerally. One of the best rieslings in New Zealand.”

93+ points – Cameron Douglas MW
“Very youthful, vibrant and pristine bouquet with its signature of honeysuckle and complexity from later picked fruit, lemon and white peach, apple and a layer of quince. Delicious on the palate finishing dry driven by a backbone of acidity and mouthfeel, and flavours of citrus and white fleshed orchard fruits before the honeysuckle and late pick characters fold back in. A wine that will age well and deliver exceptional value in years to come.”

18.5/ 20 points – RaymondChanWineReviews.co.nz
“Bright, even, pale yellow with a slight green hue. This has a rich bouquet with softly penetrating aromas of citrus, pickled ginger, blossom, and tropical fruit notes. Full-bodied, dry to taste, aromas of lemon, lime and mandarin intertwined with pineapple, stone fruit, magnolia, pickled ginger and honeycomb. The generous fruit shows depth and layers, unfolding citrus peels and honeycomb. Tangy acidity and fine phenolics provide structure, lending a long, rich and moreish palate. This dry and complex style of Riesling is ready to mingle with multi-layers and textures.”

16.5+/ 20 points – JancisRobinson.com
“Orchard fruit, honey, white peach and a touch of flint/slate. Tangy, pithy palate with a long, pure-fruited finish.”