Nautilus Estate Southern Valleys Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020

Description

Cherry, Oak, Spice

"Complex and developing, intriguing and layered. A bouquet and palate of red berry and cherry fruit flavours, finesse and charm from mineral and floral highlights, the oak signature is excellent adding complexity and myriad scents. Delicious, dry, complex and textured as the wine touches the palate, a wine to savour on its or with carefully selected fare. Fine tannins have polish with a fine powdery feel, acidity carries flavours and freshness. An excellent example, ready to drink from 2024 through 2030" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, May 2024

"Fragrant, floral pinot noir with violet, rose petal, cherry, plum, fresh herbs and subtle, spicy flavours that are deliciously accessible. Silken texture and surprising power with a tantalisingly lengthy finish" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Oct 2023

The 2020 Nautilus Pinot Noir is dark ruby in colour. The complex  nose displays floral characters; violets and rose petals, sweet dark  cherry, plums, earthy notes and a touch of toasty spice. The palate is concentrated and elegant with a fine dense core of tannins and a long savoury finish. The primary fruit components showing in the wines youth will further  develop and integrate over the next five years as the wine matures.

Rains in November & December kept the soil moisture levels up and while January and February were warm and dry, we had sufficient  water to get through the season.  The 2020 harvest will be remembered as ‘unusual’ given the  measures and practices which had to instigate to ensure we all  remained safe from the virus. Throughout the harvest, the one thing that always remained on our side was the weather. Perfect ripening conditions with an early arrival of the autumn weather pattern of cool nights and warm, but not hot, days meant for nice slow flavour development. The fruit condition was pristine and some of the best we have seen.

To make this wine, fruit from Pinot Noir clones 114, 115, 5, 667 and 777 was hand harvested and de-stemmed without crushing to allow a portion of whole berries in the ferment. A small amount of whole bunch fruit was also included in some ferments (average 20% whole bunch). The grapes were fermented with indigenous yeast in open top  fermenters after a 7-12 day ‘cold soak’. Careful cap management, using our pneumatic punch down device, has resulted in extraction of only the soft ripe tannins. After pressing the wine was racked directly to a mixture of new and older French oak Barriques (25% new), where it remained undisturbed until filtration and bottling in March 2021.

Food Pairing: Beautiful accompanied by Venison with Star Anise.