Hi all ,
recently attended a verticle tasting of some Pegasus Bay
Pinot Noirs and their top pinot Prima Dona.

Having been absent for soo long please excuse me if they are not up to their former candor or accuracy.

Pegasus Bay is a smallish family owned winery based in Waipara with three tiers of wines- the Main Divide a ttheir entry level, Pegasus Bay and then the Opera series wines. Their first vintage was early 90's and their late harvest riesling is one of the best in NZ. No tasting notes for that sadly.

1998 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir (all 10/5 clone)
Color is still vibrant with only slight brickking at edge. Sadly the nose is not so inspiring showing some tired raisin like fruit. This does blow off with slight rubber notes and some dark cherry fruit evident but not forward. The palate is somewhat divide with the sulphur and bitter phenols coming thorugh. Overall the oak and sulphur tend ot dominate. This wine is sadly just tired.

Pegasus bay Pinot Noir 2000 (all 10/5 clone)
The colour is red brick more like older merlot than the vibrancy of pinot noir. The nose is subdued with vanilla and slight current characters. Palate is nicely balanced with a little acid still showing, but again the oak and acid tends ot dominate , and I would say this wine is on the downward spine of the dirnking bell.

2001 Pegasus Bay Pinot (all 10/5 clone)
This was the first pinot of the tasting exhibiting classic urple red pinot vibrancy. The nose was also the best still showing cherry, currant , some soft spice sandle wood and a little mushroomy funk (not much though). The palate was holding together very well with the acids and tannins playing off nicely in the mouth. Smooth finish. The flavours in the mouth tended towards savoury characters with only hints of the sweet fruit evident on the nose.

I feel confident in giving this wine a score of 87 points.

After the tasting it was decided this was drinking the best of the pinots, however it certainly wasn't the best pinot at the tasting.

2002 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir (all 10/5 clone)
The colour was lovely with a softer red edge darkening towards a violet colour. More sourer nose notes than 2001 with red fruit far more evident. The nose was still closed (none of the wines were decanted sadly). This was further backed up by the palate with strict tight acids and tannins. The fruit did show but not overtly. Sour cherry, softer chocolate and some licorice notes. A good wine that needs some time maybe 2 years. 88 points.

Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir 03 (Dijon clone and 10/5 with cold wash press)

The nose was beautifully warmer than the former wines. Sandlewood, spiced cherry and a slight sappy note came through. The palate shows great length and wonderful even distribution of flavour. My favourite of the Pegasus Bay Pinots, but needs a couple more years to bring the complexities out. 90 points.

Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir 2004
Colour is very intense crimson with some purple shading. Nose is somewhat closed with some sappy notes hiding the fruit. After a few moments this blew off and strawberry, vanilla and a hint of anise showed through. Palate was very very concentrated. Flavours that shone through for me and were echoed by other attendess included, strawberries some black olives, licorice, coffee flavours. This wine was very complex and will be a star in a couple of years IMO. 88 points.

Prima Dona Pinot Noir 01 ( 10/5 clone)
Very deep crimson. The nose is driven by elegant sweet forest floor fruit. Black berry, currants and spiced all evident. The palate washarmonius with tannins showing through nicely. Great wine IMO 92 points.

Prima Dona Pinot Noir 03 (Dijon Clone)
The colour is less intense than 01 however still dark. Nose is very elegant and refined with more sweeter fruit than the 01. Red cherries, purple plums, and some gamey notes all showing up. The palate was elegant, well structured but somewhat unforgiving as acids were still "capturing" the flavours. However sweet fruit (plum in particular) showed through with mushrooms and softer spiced notes also beckoning. This needed decanting sadly so I don't think showed its true potential. Great wine all the same. 89 points.

And there we go. Hope you enjoy.