Pegasus Bay in Waipara use the traditional French variety of ‘Muscat Petit Grains’ to make this aromatic white wine. A light straw colour in the glass, and intensely aromatic. The nose is initially lush and complex, with golden apple, ginger, orchid, lemon peel, lychee, elderflower and an intriguing ‘grape’ note too – which is very unusual in wine (to actually smell of grapes). The palate is off-dry, with the plush fruit sweetness offset by a zesty acidity. Phenolics, fruit tannins and bags of spicy flavours jostle through the palate, as the ying and yang of the fruit and acid flow back and forth. The finish is long, silken and quite unctuous. 94pts
Pegasus Bay Muscat 2017
