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The Nectar of the Gods: Dessert Wine Duoproduct-timed-pdf - Sweet New Zealand Gems (375ml) Today's Holiday Buzz

Why We're Drinking It

Sometimes the sweetest things come in small packages. This duo of honeyed New Zealand dessert wines in 375ml bottles make the ideal gifts for people who like to drink their dessert. The Pegasus Bay Noble and The Pilot by Alpha Domus Leonarda Late Harvest Sémillon both make awesome alternatives to Sauternes and are perfectly sized to slip into a stocking or two.

The secret to these wines are grapes that been allowed to raisin. Humid weather during the fall helps the beneficial botrytis or noble rot take hold in the . It shrivels the grapes, making their natural sugars and flavors more intense.

At Pegasus Bay, the Chardonnay raisins are pressed to extract juice which is then fermented and aged in oak barrels. The wine is deliciously perfumed with honey, yellow peaches, apricots and caramel. The Leonarda stars Sémillon, the same in the famous Sauternes Château d’Yquem. It’s redolent with mango, pineapple and orange flavors and aromas.

Fine examples of New Zealand nectar, access to this sub $22 gift duo lasts for just 24 hours.

The Nectar of the Gods: Dessert Wine Duo includes: (1-bottle) 2003 Pegasus Bay Noble Chardonnay, 90 Insider points (1-bottle) 2009 Alpha Domus The Pilot Leonarda Late Harvest Semillon, 92 Insider points

* This set comes elegantly wrapped for simple gift-giving.

Tasting Notes

VARIETAL 2003 Pegasus Bay Noble Chardonnay (375ml) Semillon & Chardonnay On release it has a bright, golden-apricot hue reflecting the ripeness of the APPELLATION fruit and the concentration of the juice by the botrytis. The bouquet and New Zealand - Hawkes Bay & flavour suggest yellow-fleshed peaches, apricots, marzipan, caramel and ALCOHOL vanilla pod, intertwined with comb honey and a whiff of cigar smoke. It is 12.00 mouth-filling, rich and unctuous, but yet has lively acidity with a touch of SIZE grapefruit-like firmness to keep its luscious sweetness in balance. 750ml BLEND Semillon & Chardonnay 2009 Alpha Domus The Pilot Leonarda Late Harvest Semillon (375ml) Mango, Orange and Turkish delight aromas give this wine and exotic bouquet. Marmalade and grapefruit characters result in an appealing citrus lift. Rounded and luscious with flavours of marmalade and ripe tropical fruits. Grapefruit and honey characters are supported by fresh citrus flavours. A full flavoured, well balanced wine with a velvety mid palate and clean citrus finish.

The Story to Know

About Pegasus Bay The Donaldson family have been seriously involved in wine since the early 1970s and were pioneers of local grape growing and winemaking. Pegasus Bay wines are made wth estate fruit grown in their Waipara Valley vineyard. Minimal intervention at all stages from vine to bottle typifies our approach. They believe in traditional sustainable viticultural management, low crop levels, minimal handling of fruit during processing and gentle pressing. They allow wines to go through natural malolactic fermentation and clarify by settling. They aspire to capture the unique flavours of the vineyard in our wine.

About Alpha Domus, The Pilot Alpha Domus winery was established by two generations of the Ham family. The vision began in 1990 with the purchase of bare land and planting began in 1991.

From the winery... Our commitment is to produce premium quality wines that are true to varietal character, a reflection of their unique terrior and that represent exceptional value-for-money. Our vineyard lies in the Bridge Pa sub-region of Hawkes Bay. From these soils, Alpha Domus winery produces world-class wines from a wide range of including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Chardonnay, Semillon, , Viognier and Syrah. Alpha Domus winery makes and cellars premium wines entirely from our own vineyard.

The Pilot selection offers superbly priced, well balanced wines that show pure varietal character and ripe fruit flavours. They are stylish, approachable wines with soft acids and supple tannin. These characters make them food friendly and ready to enjoy now.

Perfect Pairings

Pair either of these wines with a range of foods: As an aperitif with paté, foie gras or blue cheese or great with desserts like citrus tart, panna cotta and crème brûlée.

Ratings

2009 Alpha Domus The Pilot Leonarda Late Harvest Semillon 90 Insider Points

2003 Pegasus Bay Noble Chardonnay 92 Insider Points

Reviews

2009 Alpha Domus The Pilot Leonarda Late Harvest Semillon Deep golden hues with aromas of pineapple upside-down cake, orange marmalade and honey. The palate is honeyed and exotic without being cloying. Very long lasting finish. gb

2003 Pegasus Bay Noble Chardonnay From one of the great producers of the region- A "noble" Chardonnay it is- with intense aromatics of botrytis- baked apples, white flowers, honey & candied ginger. Great, zingy acidity keeps it from being cloying. What a treat....gb