The 2023 Main Divide Gewürztraminer is a bit of a hidden gem amongst the Pegasus Bay range. It's wonderfully fragrant with super ripe fruits, florals and spice while the palate delivers rich flavours and luscious texture. This would have to be one of the best value and truly satisfying Gewürztraminers on the market today.
Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"On release the colour is lemon straw. A vibrant and perfumed bouquet enthrals the senses, tropical notes of lychee and pineapple studded with rose petals, spiced pear, lemon curd, ginger, and a hint of marzipan. The palate is lavish and multi layered, a rich mouthfeel balanced by ripe phenolics and a splash of sweetness, closing with a long, piquant tail."
Reviews for the 2022 vintage below…
4 ½ Stars Michael Cooper (2022 Vintage)
"Offering top value, the 2022 vintage from Pegasus Bay was fermented in old oak puncheons and briefly barrel-aged. Full-bodied, it has concentrated, peachy, distinctly spicy flavours, showing good complexity, a splash of sweetness (13.5 grams/litre of residual sugar), gentle acidity and a well-rounded finish. Drink now or cellar."
Rated Excellent & 93/100 Cameron Douglas MS, October 2022 (2022 Vintage)
"Fragrant, floral, spiced and varietal. A lovely bouquet with personality and style. Flavours of fresh apple and pears, honeysuckle, white pepper and dried herbs. A satin texture throughout the palate with a medium+ acidity, fresh white spice and a core of fruit. Balanced, well made and ready to drink from 2022 through 2026+."
5 Stars & 93/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, November 2022 (2022 Vintage)
"It's richly fruited and instantly appealing on the nose with mango, pineapple, lychee and ginger spice aromas, followed by a juicy palate that's fleshy and delectable. A splendid expression of the variety displaying gorgeous perfume with mouthfilling flavours. At its best: now to 2027."
Rated Excellent Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times (2022 Vintage)
"The nose leaps out of the glass, Turkish delight, rose petal, gunflint. Palate echoes the nose, a touch of sweetness turning drier and dustier as it flows through the mouth. Picks up almondy nuttiness and growing spice notes with air; that touch of sweetness a little more evident. Heart on its sleeve stuff, super appeal and crying out to be enjoyed now."
93/100 JamesSuckling.com, March 2023 (2022 Vintage)
"Waxy with rose hip and dried lavender to the pineapple aromas that follow through to a full body, with a medium-sweet palate of candied fruits and spices such as cinnamon and cardamon. Bitter and spicy at the finish."
4 Stars Yvonne Lorkin, December 2022 (2022 Vintage)
"From a cooler-than-average summer, comes a spicy, zesty gewurztraminer which boasts all the classic aromatics I love (lychee, ginger, manuka honey and jasmine) but injects baking spices like clove and nutmeg alongside dried citrus peel and crystalised mango. It’s a plump, plush, sexy thing to sip, yet has a zing of herbaceousness at its core to keep things fresh and frisky."
5 Stars & 18.5/20 (93) Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, November 2022 (2020 Vintage)
"Bright, pale yellow with depth, even colour throughout. The nose is softly full and fragrant, aromas of white lily and magnolia filled the glass, underlying lychee, rambutan, rose petals and spice. Medium-full bodied, off-dry to taste, aromas of lychee, rambutan entwined with ripe pear, rose petals and ginger, white lily and magnolia linger to a long, perfumed finish. Oily, honeyed textured mouthfeel shows weight and plushness; refreshing and balanced acidity compliments and drives a long, spice finish. This juicy, plush Gewurztraminer exhibit tropical fruit with ginger, rose and rich floral fragrance on an opulent off-dry palate. Match with liver pate and spicy Asian fare over the next 3-5 years. The grapes were crushed and left on skins for a short time, fermented in old oak puncheons naturally to 13.5% alc, 13.5g/l RS, and matured in barrels for approx 3 months."
92/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, October 2022 (2022 Vintage)
"Off-dry gewürztraminer with classic Turkish delight/rose petal, lychee flavours plus a hint of struck flint. Delicately luscious wine with an ethereal texture and lingering finish. Should develop nicely with bottle age."