Pegasus Bay Bel Canto Dry Riesling 2017

Description

I thought the 2015 vintage of this wine was an outstanding wine, a “Wow wine”, but this Pegasus Bay Bel Canto Riesling 2017 is just as impressive. It’s a remarkable wine that perfectly captures the characteristics of the 2017 vintage in the North Canterbury region of New Zealand. Warm days and cool nights that help balance the ripeness of the grapes with the refreshing acidity are the norm for these vineyards but in 2017 following the warm summer months, there were perfect conditions for the development of noble botrytis, which is essential for this wine’s structure, richness and full body. Cool fermentation ensured the fruit purity was retained. On the nose, this 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 and grapefruit, with hints of apricot and ginger. The texture of the wine is silky and luxurious, and the finish is lingering and dry. A really beautiful Riesling that will continue to evolve gracefully with age.

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”.