Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc

Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc

Wine Description

The natural beauty of the Nautilus shell has inspired our expressive, balanced, precisely crafted wines since 1985, the early days of Marlborough winegrowing.  Back then there were only 80 NZ wineries. Today there are nearly 700. Yet we remain small, family-owned, and committed to the stunningly beautiful Marlborough region.

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Acclaim
“The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc may not be the most aromatically exuberant example you'll find from Marlborough, but that's not its aim. Texturally, it is far more interesting, offering richness, complexity and, most importantly, harmony. It has flavor concentration, but those flavors have restraint, sitting at the elderflower, grapefruit and pineapple end of the spectrum, with a subtle flinty character peeking through.” — Vinous, Apr 2024
“Notes of cooked pears, lemons and green melon with hints of salt and white pepper. Light- to medium-bodied with very lively acidity and a crisp, tangy finish.” — James Suckling, Mar 2024
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Vineyard & Production Info
Soil composition
Stony
Training method
Cane-pruned
Vines/acre:
880
Exposure:
Northern
Harvest time:
April
First vintage of this wine:
1985
Bottles produced of this wine:
492,000
Average Vine Age:
20
Certified Vineyards:
All vineyards certified under Sustainable winegrowing New Zealand
Certifying Organizations:
New Zealand Winegrowers
Sustainability Certification:
SWNZ
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
21 days
Fermentation temperature:
55 °F
Maceration technique:
Sur-Lie Aging
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of aging container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of aging before bottling:
5 months
Total SO2
91
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.14
Acidity:
7.2 g/L
Alcohol:
13 %
Dry extract:
20.8 g/L
Total SO2
91
Residual sugar:
2.82 g/L
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Wine Production

Grapes were machine-harvested at night then fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel to give fresh aromas. Some of the fermentations were started with non-saccharomyces yeasts for texture and complexity, with the remainder using aromatic yeasts giving aromatic intensity.  The wine was kept on lees for five months providing creaminess and integrated flavours.

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About the Vineyard

Nautilus Sauvignon is sourced from free-draining stony soils, giving low cropping, low vigour, early ripening vines, great flavour development every year and serious, age-worthy wines.  A blend of sites adds layers of complexity.