Nautilus Pinot Noir Clay Hills Vineyard

Nautilus Single Vineyard Clay Hills Pinot Noir bottle image

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
"Beautifully struck Marlborough pinot with style and grace. This has bright red cherries and spiced strawberries, along with subtle spices and early hints of earthy complexity. But it’s the bright fruit that really impresses on the smooth and succulent palate with fine but assertive tannins. Tidy finish."
— James Suckling, Oct 2018
“Beautifully struck Marlborough pinot with style and grace. This has bright red cherries and spiced strawberries, along with subtle spices and early hints of earthy complexity. But it’s the bright fruit that really impresses on the smooth and succulent palate with fine but assertive tannins. Tidy finish.” (#77 of Top 100 Wines of New Zealand 2018)
— James Suckling, Dec 2018
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Clay Hills
Vineyard size
14 acres
Soil composition
Clay
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
395 feet
Vines/acre:
1333
Yield/acre:
2 tons
Exposure:
Northern
Year vineyard planted:
1999
Harvest time:
March
First vintage of this wine:
2014
Bottles produced of this wine:
2,400
Certified Vineyards:
All vineyards certified
Certifying Organizations:
New Zealand Winegrowers
Sustainability Certification:
Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ)
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Winemaking & Aging
Prefermentation Technique:
Cold soak
Time on its skins:
20
Maceration length:
8
Varietal composition:
100% Pinot Noir
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
8 days
Fermentation temperature:
90 °F
Maceration technique:
Cold Soak Maceration and Punchdown
Malolactic fermentation:
Full
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225
Type of oak:
French
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.6
Acidity:
5.1 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
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Wine Production

Low cropped, Dijon and Pommard clone grapes were hand-picked and chilled before sorting to ensure pristine fruit. 25% of the indigenous ferment comprised whole bunches to give refined tannins and floral perfume. 

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About the Vineyard

Marlborough is a sheltered, sunny, cool maritime climate known for intense, elegant wines. Nautilus Single Vineyard Clay Hills Pinot Noir is sourced from a single block on our Estate-owned Clay Hills Vineyard. This clay soil, hillside site has been the jewel in the crown of Nautilus Southern Valleys Pinot Noir for many years, giving mid palate weight, concentrated dark berries and plum flavours and firm fine tannins.