The Paper Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc

The Paper Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc bottle image

Wine Description

The Paper Nautilus illustrates an alternative style to the classic expression of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Over 30 years’ experience with this variety have led us to favour palate weight, texture and length in the Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc. The Paper Nautilus takes this one step further.

Paper Nautilus shells are wafer-thin with beautiful geometry and texture. They often wash up on secluded beaches in the Marlborough Sounds.  

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Acclaim
The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc The Paper Nautilus is a savory, stylish Sauvignon Blanc that fermented in large barrels. Nautilus Estate’s careful handling is made clear in the glass. Its edges are round and this displays a succulent texture with lightly flinty and floral notes combined with a touch of lemon citrus. The lithe, drawn-out acidity provides precision on the finish. A little more length would be welcome, as it is rather tasty. — Vinous, Mar 2025
“This is very intense, showing lots of mineral, green-melon and lime aromas and flavors that follow through to a medium body with creamy texture and stone undertones. Complex and flinty at the end.” — James Suckling, Jan 2025
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Renwick
Vineyard size
18 acres
Soil composition
Stony
Training method
VSP
Elevation:
130 feet
Vines/acre:
880
Yield/acre:
4 tons
Exposure:
Northern
Year vineyard planted:
1992
Harvest time:
April
First vintage of this wine:
2015
Bottles produced of this wine:
3,600
Average Vine Age:
25
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
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
20 days
Fermentation temperature:
65 °F
Maceration technique:
Sur-Lie Aging
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of aging container:
Oak Cuve
Size of aging container:
3000
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
6 months
Age of Aging Container:
Three years
Total SO2
85
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.03
Acidity:
6.8 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Dry extract:
20.5 g/L
Total SO2
85
Residual sugar:
3.2 g/L
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Wine Production

Juice is fermented on solids in a large French Oak Cuve, using a non-Saccaromyces yeast, giving a warmer, slower ferment, then matured on yeast lees for seven months. This translates to more subtle aromatics, but far more texture and intensity on the palate.

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About the Vineyard

The Paper Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from some older vines on our oldest estate-owned vineyard in Renwick. Soils are free-draining and stony, giving low cropping/low vigour vines, relatively early ripening, great flavour development every year and age-worthy wines.