Nautilus Chardonnay

Nautilus Chardonnay

Wine Description

Nautilus Estate has been growing Chardonnay in the Renwick vineyard since 1989. A Burgundian inspired wine, this Chardonnay has beautiful complexity from the cool climate freshness that Marlborough has to offer.

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Acclaim
“Wet-earth minerality and ripe pineapple and red apples. Creamy and flinty – it is true to its reductively made, lean style. Bright acidity. Very long and perfumed finish.” – 16.5+ points  — Jancis Robinson, Apr 2024
“The 2021 Chardonnay leads with toasted nuts, white peach, layers of green apple and sliced fennel. It's a toasty, spicy little number with lingering texture. Lovely wine.” — Wine Advocate, Nov 2023
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Vineyard & Production Info
Production area/appellation:
Marlborough
Vineyard name
Renwick Vineyard
Vineyard size
7 ha acres
Soil composition
Stony alluvium
Elevation:
131 feet
Harvest time:
March
Average Vine Age:
35 years
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Chardonnay
Fining agent:
vegan
Type of oak:
French oak barrique 20% new
Length of aging before bottling:
3 - 5 years
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.23
Acidity:
5.7 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Residual sugar:
1.5 g/L
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Wine Production

Handpicked grapes are chilled overnight before gentle pressing direct to barrel without settling. The wine is entirely barrel fermented in French oak barriques (20% new) using indigenous yeast. A short period of lees stirring post fermentation adds a textural element to the palate.

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About the Vineyard

Fruit from the Renwick vineyard is blended with a small amount of Dijon clones. These sites are stony and free draining, giving naturally low yields, fantastic depth of flavor and mineral structure. Over forty percent of the blend is from new Burgundian clonal plantings in the Renwick vineyard which nicely complements mature clones on the same site.